Is there such a thing as a phal den?

[MrHungx]

I saw this unusual looking NOID phal at my local Trader Joe's. I feel guilty for having bought it, since it is a NOID, but I am intrigued by the shape of the flowers. It almost reminds me of a dendrobium. I checked to make sure that the shape of the flowers was not due to the plant being dehydrated. There was also a NOID miltonopsis and a slipper orchid as well, which I passed on after seeing this phal.

[Vanda lover]

that is an unusual looking phal.

[MrHungx]

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

that is an unusual looking phal.

I thought so too. Here's a better pic of the flowers. I was actually going to buy discounted azaleas at Rite Aid, which was across the street, but they had thrown them all out.

[Vanda lover]

I've never seen one like that. I love the spots.

[Paul]

No reason to feel guilty. While many of us are not into NoIDs, if you like it then that is what matters.

With regard to your original Q ... no there is no such thing as a phal-den hybrid. Short of genetic engineering perhaps, such a cross is impossible. There is a species Dendrobium bigibbum which was at one point also known as Dendrobium phalanopsis because the petals are fuller and rounder more like those of a phal -- IOSPE PHOTOS

Yours is definitely a phal.

[MrHungx]

Originally Posted by Paul

No reason to feel guilty. While many of us are not into NoIDs, if you like it then that is what matters.

With regard to your original Q ... no there is no such thing as a phal-den hybrid. Short of genetic engineering perhaps, such a cross is impossible. There is a species Dendrobium bigibbum which was at one point also known as Dendrobium phalanopsis because the petals are fuller and rounder more like those of a phal -- IOSPE PHOTOS

Yours is definitely a phal.

Yeah, I know there is no such thing as a phal den. I was simply calling it that because it was a phal that looked like a den.

[RosieC]

It looks like a peloric Phalaenopsis. This is a mutation that increases the radial symetry of the flower. Sometimes it manifests as petals closed arround the center, with the sepals in their usual position.

I've seen quite a few of them, I think you will see others if you search on Peloric Phal here on the board.

Sometimes peloric shows as colour changes in the petals, but this seems to be more a change in the position of the petals.