Phal. Valentinii var. Alba

[Wendy]

That's beautiful Marco! Well bloomed. I may be wrong but isn't Valentinii considered a natural hybrid? Can anyone verify if this is true or not? Pretty please?

[wallyworld]

I like it!!! Very nice pics and what a beautiful flower. Looks really good and you are growing in s/h also.

[wallyworld]

Wendy, what I was told is that it is a natural hybrid of Phal cornu-cervi x Phal violacea. I asked a friend from my local orchid society and she is a big time Phal grower. I sent her the link for the Orchid Board...I am sure we might have another member.

[Marco]

Thanks everyone, I do love this little guy. It's been in bloom since late July.

Wendy - I wouldn't know if it's a natural hybrod. The only reason I bought it was cause it was advertised as alba and frangrant well the alba parts been scratched but I was told that both parents are alba.

Wally - I have all my phals in s/h except for 2 tiny violacea alba seedlings that I have bagged in a pot of sphag. My phals love s/h.

[Phantasm]

Valentinii is a natural hybrid but this specific cross was obviously made to produce alba forms and was produced in someone's greenhouse.

[Ross]

Doesn't alba mean "white"? Where is the white coloration? Just curious. Nice blossom Marco.

[Phantasm]

Originally Posted by rsfrid

Doesn't alba mean "white"? Where is the white coloration? Just curious. Nice blossom Marco.

This is an excellent question, and addresses a much misunderstood section of color forms. Alba is used generically these days for flowers that lack the ability to create red pigments. In the case of the Valentinii, take away the normal red pigments then what remains is the greenish base color.
By definition alba is equivalent to white, but variations of albino descriptions are used depending on what color the flower is. For example, you could say alba, album, albinum for white flowers. Aureum is a gold yellow, flavum is yellow, alboflavum is white and yellow, viride or virens is green, and alboviride is white and green.

Also, there are terms like semi-alba, albescens (almost but not quite alba).

[Tony]

Good one Marco, nice growing.