Phalaenopsis: a photographic compendium of Philippine species

The genus Phalaenopsis requires no introduction, and its species, in their myriad variations and color forms, are still much sought around the world even after more than a century of introduction. And for this post, I present to you the Philippine species which are among the most spectacular in the genus.

Phalaenopsis amabilis

Phalaenopsis amabilis labellum

Phalaenopsis amabilis, albinistic form

Phalaenopsis aphrodite subsp. aphrodite

Phalaenopsis aphrodite subsp. formosana

Phalaenopsis intermedia

Phalaenopsis intermedia, red lip

Phalaenopsis intermedia, yellow lip

Phalaenopsis intermedia, pink form

Phalaenopsis philippinensis

Phalaenopsis sanderiana

Phalaenopsis sanderiana

Phalaenopsis schilleriana

Phalaenopsis stuartiana

Phalaenopsis stuartiana fma. nobilis

Phalaenopsis x veitchiana

Phalaenopsis equestris

Phalaenopsis equestris fma. alba

A different flower coloration of the albino form of Phalaenopsis equestris

Phalaenopsis equestris fma. aurea

Phalaenopsis equestris fma. cyanochila

Phalaenopsis equestris fma. leucaspis

Phalaenopsis equestris fma. leucotanthe

Phalaenopsis equestris fma. rosea

Phalaenopsis lindenii

Phalaenopsis lindenii

Phalaenopsis lindenii

Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi

Phalaenopsis bastianii

Phalaenopsis fasciata

The characters of Phalaenopsis hieroglyphica overlap with P. lueddemanniana to allow questions regarding its distinctness, but here maintained separately to permit comparisons between the two. For a discussion of this, please refer to this post: https://jardinerongsunog.blogspot.com/2018/04/should-phalaenopsis-hieroglyphica-and.html

 Phalaenopsis hieroglyphica

Phalaenopsis hieroglyphica

 Phalaenopsis lueddemaniana

Phalaenopsis lueddemanniana, albinistic form

Phalaenopsis mariae

Phalaenopsis micholitzii

Phalaenopsis pallens

Phalaenopsis pallens

Phalaenopsis pallens fma. alba

Phalaenopsis pallens fma. alba

Phalaenopsis pallens var. trullifera

Phalaenopsis pulchra

Phalaenopsis reichenbachiana

Phalaenopsis sumatrana

The next three photos are very similar to P. sumatrana, with about identical labellum morphology but differing in the much smaller flowers and proportionally more rounded perianth segments.

Phalaenopsis sumatrana

Phalaenopsis sumatrana

Phalaenopsis sumatrana

The genus Kingidium is currently interpreted to be under Phalaenopsis, but the species ascribed for the Philippines, P. deliciosa, may not be native to the islands at all. Kingidium philippinense, synonymized with P. deliciosa, is sufficiently distinct from it to warrant recognition as a separate species, but no one as of yet has made a new name combination that would allow it to be referred under Phalaenopsis. If such a move will be undertaken, a new species name will have to be sought due to the existence of the name P. philippinensis.

Kingidium philippinense

Could there be more Phalaenopsis species awaiting discovery in the Philippines? The most volatile parts of Mindanao, as well as the southernmost islands, are rarely explored due to security concerns but its forests may yield new species or new species records, but its fruition will depend on improved state of affairs within these regions, as well as the participation of not just botanists, but true orchidologists.