phalaenopsis with extra labellums ? - Orchid Board

protium · #1 09-05-2009, 12:06 AM

Hello everyone I am fairly new to orchids and new to this forum, but what I have learned so far has me hooked on these interesting plants.

I purchased this phal at a local nursery today. most of the orchids were in rough shape but this one caught my eye and I talked them into selling it for half price so I bought it.

all of the flowers on the spike are the same. They appear to have labellums where where there should be petals.

I am interested in hearing what some experienced growers
think of this.

I removed a single flower and spread it open for a better look.

Zoi2 · #2 09-05-2009, 12:36 AM

Hello and welcome to the OB. You've got a very pretty peloric phal.
Joann

zxyqu · #3 09-05-2009, 12:46 AM

Joann has hit it on the head. I've been reading up on this phenomenon, so maybe an expert can come in and help explain it. It's a nifty genetic issue that creates a nice bloom with extra lebellums I believe. I've read that some will stay this way for a bit and then revert back. Sounds to me like an epigenetic phenomenon, but again I'm just guessing. Good Find though

protium · #4 09-05-2009, 12:55 AM

Thank you, I googled the term peloric and came across an interesting article that shed a little light on my orchid. I am happy I decided to buy it

I will post a link to the article for anyone interested

Peloric Orchids

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #5 09-05-2009, 01:58 AM

For those of you who are in the scientific community and can truly understand what the writers are saying in their articles. There are articles you can pull up on this subject on google scholar. Many of them are in peer reviewed journals.

orchidbingo · #6 09-05-2009, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by protium

Hello everyone I am fairly new to orchids and new to this forum, but what I have learned so far has me hooked on these interesting plants.

I purchased this phal at a local nursery today. most of the orchids were in rough shape but this one caught my eye and I talked them into selling it for half price so I bought it.

all of the flowers on the spike are the same. They appear to have labellums where where there should be petals.

I am interested in hearing what some experienced growers
think of this.

I removed a single flower and spread it open for a better look.

How beautiful! I really love pelorics and you have a winner

Thanks for sharing.

orchidbingo