Phalaenopsis difformis, also known as the dark brown Phalaenopsis, is a species of epiphytic orchid native to Assam, Borneo, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Laos, Malaya, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sumatera, Thailand, Vietnam and West Himalaya.[2]
| Phalaenopsis difformis | |
|---|---|
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| Flower detail | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Genus: | Phalaenopsis |
| Species: | P. difformis
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| Binomial name | |
| Phalaenopsis difformis (Wall. ex Lindl.) Kocyan & Schuit.[2]
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| Varieties[2] | |
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| Synonyms[2][3][4] | |
Synonyms of Phalaenopsis difformis var. difformis
Synonyms of Phalaenopsis difformis var. kinabaluensis
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Taxonomy
editThis species has a complex taxonomic history and has been previously assigned to several genera. Within this species two variations, Phalaenopsis difformis var. difformis and Phalaenopsis difformis var. kinabaluensis (J.J.Wood, A.L.Lamb & Shim) Kocyan & Schuit., are formally recognized.[2]
Description
editThe very short-stemmed plants bear few, coriaceous, elliptic-oblong, flat, spreading leaves between 7-16 cm in length and 3-4 cm in width. The flowers are of unusual shape for the genus and arise between late June to early July from pendulous, many-flowered, 20-30 cm long inflorescences, which exceed the leaves in length.[5] The many-flowered inflorescences resemble a flying swarm of insects.[6] The greenish-yellow flowers with brown bands are 1.2 cm wide. The most striking feature is the unusual shape of the labellum. It is much longer than the sepals and the recurved side lobes have a pectinate (i.e. comb-like[7]) margin. This species has often been found growing on Glochidion heyneanum var. heyneanum (syn. Glochidion velutinum[8]) trees at altitudes of 20 m in evergreen forests.[5]
Ecology
editThis species are lithophytes or epiphytes.[6]
Etymology
editThe specific epithet difformis is derived from Latin meaning misshapen or illformed.[9] This refers to the highly unusual labellum.
Conservation
editThe IUCN has not assessed this species conservation status. It is however protected unter the CITES appendix II regulations of international trade.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b CITES | Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. "Phalaenopsis" Retrieved June 11, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Phalaenopsis difformis (Wall. ex Lindl.) Kocyan & Schuit. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". powo.science.kew.org. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ "Phalaenopsis difformis var. difformis". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ^ "Phalaenopsis difformis var. kinabaluensis (J.J.Wood, A.Lamb & Shim) Kocyan". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ^ a b Huda, M. K., Hoque, M. M., & Alam, M. O. (2020). Three new Angiospermic (Orchidaceae) records from Bangladesh. Jahangirnagar University Journal of Biological Sciences, 9(1-2), 123-132.
- ^ a b Teoh, E. S. (2016). "Medicinal orchids of Asia" (Vol. 16, No. 4). Cham: Springer.
- ^ pectinate. (n.d.) Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014. (1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014). Retrieved February 18 2022 from https://www.thefreedictionary.com/pectinate
- ^ "Glochidion heyneanum var. heyneanum". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ^ Alrich, Peggy & Higgins, Wesley. (2016). "Phalaenopsis difformis." 26. 20-21.
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