Phalaenopsis gigantea J.J.Smith 1909 Subgenus Polychilos Section Amboinenses Sweet 1968 Photo courtesy of Nik Fahmi and his Vortex Orchid Page.

Another Clone Photo courtesy of Jean Claude George

to MOSTLY LATE and EARLY

Common Name The Gigantic Phalaenopsis - refers to the large leaves

Flower Size 1 1/2 to 2 3/4" [3.75 to 7 cm]

Found in Sabah, Borneo, and Sarawak, in lowland to hill forests at elevations of sealevel to 400 meters, this large sized, warm to hot growing, understory epiphyte has short stems completely enveloped by persistent, imbricating leaf sheaths and carrying 5 to 6, pendulous, leathery, shiney on both sides, elliptic to oblong-ovate, shiney, bluish green, obtuse leaves that can bloom at any time but mostly in the late summer and early fall on a 6 to 15" [15 to 40 cm] long, racemose or paniculate, pendulous, many flowered inflorescence with small, triangular bracts and sweetly fragrant, simultaneously opening flowers. The inflorescence if still green and undamaged can flower for several seasons sio it is best to leave them on.

Synonyms Phalaenopsis gigantea f. decolorata (Braem ex Holle-De Raeve) Christenson 2001; Phalaenopsis gigantea var. aurea Christenson 2001; Phalaenopsis gigantea var. decolorata Braem ex Holle-De Raeve 1991; Polychilos gigantea (J.J. Sm.) Shim 1982

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchids of Borneo Chan, Shim, Lamb & Wood 1994; A Checklist of the Orchids of Borneo Wood & Cribb 1994;

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