Phalaenopsis equestris [Schauer]Rchb.f 1849 Subgenus Phalaenopsis Section Stauroglottis [Schauer] Benth 1881 Photo courtesy of Jay Pfahl.

Another Clone

to MOSTLY to

Common Name The Horse Phalaenopsis

Flower Size 1" [1.5 to 3 cm]

Found from the Philippines to Taiwan as a small sized epiphyte near streams in hot to warm valleys at an altitude of sealevel to 300 meters. It is a hot growing, monopodial epiphyte with a short stem enveloped by several limbricating leaf bases and carrying to 5, fleshy, recurved, oblong-elliptic to oblong-ovate, acute or subobtuse leaves that is highly adaptable to various environments and is easy to grow. This species has a habit of making keikis and can rebloom out of old spikes and can continue to send off branches so they are best left uncut. They appreciate a drier winter although never left to dry out completely. Flowers are possible at almost any time of the year although the peak is Sept. through April on a suberect to arcuate, to 12" [30 cm] long, racemose or paniculate, denesly many flowered inflorescence with small, purple bracts and successive opening flowers. The apex of the inflorescence can at times produce a plantlet.

Synonyms Phalaenopsis equestris f. alba hort. 1969; Phalaenopsis equestris f. alba [Hort] E A Christensen 2001; Phalaenopsis equestris f. aurea Christenson 2001; Phalaenopsis equestris f. cyanochila O.Gruss 2001; Phalaenopsis equestris [Schauer] Rchb.f var alba {Hort.] Sweet 1967; Phalaenopsis equestris [Schauer] Rchb.f var leucaspis Rchb.f 1881; Phalaenopsis equestris [Schauer] Rchb.f var leucotanthe Rchb.f 1883; Phalaenopsis equestris var. rosea Valmayor & D.Tiu in H.L.Valmayor 1984 ; Phalaenopsis esmeralda auct. non rchb.f ?, Phalaenopsis riteiwanensis Masaume 1934, Phalaenopsis rosea Lindley 1848; Phalaenopsis rosea var aurantiaca Gower 1892; Phalaenopsis rosea var deliciosa Barb. 1882; Phalaenopsis rosea var leucaspis [Rchb.f] Rolfe 1886; Phalaenopsis stauroglottis [Schauer] Rchb.f 1881; *Stauroglottis equestris Schauer 1843; Stauroglottis riteiwanensis (Masam.) Masam. 1934

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchidiana Philipiniana Vol 1 Valmayor 1984; Flora Malesiana Orchids of the Philippines Vol I Agoo, Shuiteman and de Vogel 2003

Phalaenopsis equestris f. alba [Hort] E A Christensen 2001 Subgenus Phalaenopsis Section Stauroglottis< [Schauer] Benth 1881 Photo by Lourens Grobler.

An all white variety of the previous species.

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchidiana Philipiniana Vol 1 Valmayor 1984 as P equestris var alba;

Synonyms Phalaenopsis equestris f. alba hort. 1969; Phalaenopsis equestris [Schauer] Rchb.f var alba {Hort.] Sweet 1967

Phalaenopsis equestris (Schauer) Rchb. f. Forma aurea Christenson 2001 Photo courtesy of Nik Fahmi and his Vortex Orchid Page.

Another color form of the previious species.

Phalaenopsis equestris var leucaspis Schauer]Rchb.f 1849