Phalaenopsis hieroglyphica [Rchb.f] Sweet 1969 Subgenus Polychilos Section Amboinenses Sweet 1968 Photo courtesy of Oak Hill Gardens.

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Common Name The Hieroglyphic Phalaenopsis

Flower Size 2 to 3 1/2" {5 to 8.75 cm]

From the Philippines on the islands of Polillo and Palawan only at elevations to 500 meters in shady locales, this species is a medium sized, pendant growing epiphyte of hot and warm humid forests with a short stem enveloped by imbricating leaf bases carrying a few to many, somewhat coriaceous, oblong-ligulate, acute to obtuse leaves that blooms in the spring on a suberect to arching, 12" [30 cm] long, racemose or paniculate, few [3 to 4] flowered inflorescence with small ovate-cucullate bracts and long-lasting, glossy, showy, simultaneously opening flowers. The inflorescence if still green and undamaged can reflower year after year.

Synonyms *Phalaenopsis lueddemanniana var. heiroglyphica Rchb. f. 1891; Phalaenopsis lueddemanniana var. palawensis 1953; Phalaenopsis lueddemanniana var. surigadensis 1965; Polychilos hieroglyphica (Rchb. f.) Shim 1982

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 hieroglyphica [Rchb.f] Sweet 1969 var alba Photo courtesy of Timothy Choltco.

A colorless version of the previous species.

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