Phalaenopsis violacea

Phalaenopsis violacea is a species in the genus Phalaenopsis.

Description

Phalaenopsis violacea can bloom throughout the year, but usually heaviest in late spring to early summer, with two to three successively opening flowers. Flowers are 3.5 cm wide and fragrant.

The plant was first discovered by Teijsmann in 1859, who sent it to the Botanic Garden at Leiden, Netherlands. It was then flowered by Witte. In that same year Willink in Amsterdam also received some plants of the species and sent some of the flowering material to Reichenbach who described it in 1862 under the name Stauritis violacia. In the same year Teijsmann and Binnedijk in Bogor also described their plant as Phalaenopsis violacea.

Distribution

Plants are found growing in the forest of Malaya peninsula and Sumatra at elevations around 150 meters.

Culture

Grow intermediate to warm. Pot in medium fir bark and keep in partial shade. Water about once a week. Keep plant fairly moist but not wet.

Varities

Image	Name	Description
	Phalaenopsis violacea var. alba	Sepals and petals are white with green edges. Lip is white with yellow center.
	Phalaenopsis violacea var. semialba	Sepals and petals are white. Lip is light pink with yellow center.
	Phalaenopsis violacea var. coerula	Sepals and petals are light purple. Lip is purple.
	Phalaenopsis violacea var. coerula 'Keystone Blue'	Sepals and petals are purple. Lip is purple with yellow.

Naming

Common Names: The Violet Phalaenopsis

Synonyms

1. Phalaenopsis violacea f. coerulea Christenson 2001
2. Phalaenopsis violacea f. alba (Teijsm. & Binn.) Christenson 2001
3. Phalaenopsis violacea var. alba Teijsm. & Binn. 1862
4. Polychilos violacea (hort. ex H. Witte) Shim 1982
5. Stauritis violacea [Witte] Rchb.f 1862
6. Stauropsis violacea Rchb. f. 1862;

Resources

Biochemical Analysis of Phalaenopsis violacea

References

• Sweet, Herman R.. The Genus Phalaenopsis. The Orchid Digest, 1980.