Peloric Phal
 

I was at my favorite nursery and found this really neat Phal--I'm pretty sure it is peloric. What do you think? Unfortuntely it's a noid but I love the color and the mutation!

Beautiful-yes it is semi-peloric.

Susan

What would make it fully peloric?

The closer the petals look like the lip, the more fully peloric the flower is. True fully peloric flowers often look like they have 3 lips clustered around the column. I have a Phal. equestris that is pretty close, but no good pictures and she is now winding down her blooming cycle.

Susan

Sue,

In my experience with peloric orchids, the state is a little like being pregnant, "it is or it isn't". Any deviation from a normal petal/sepal is termed peloric. Half way, semi or partial, when used among most breeders/growers, means that only one petal or sepal shows a degree of being peloric. The phal shown here can be termed peloric and appears to be bilateral.

:twocents:

CL

It is lovely.

That is not my understanding of the terminology and how I have seen it used among breeders that I know. Yes, the term peloric can be used for any flower that exhibits characteristics of the lip, but there are degrees of being peloric. Using the term semi-peloric is what I have seen used to describe flowers that are mostly flat like a petal, but have hints of lip structure and coloration. I suppose it is a difference among people who are lumpers versus not. There are also Phals where the lip looks like a petal and the term "reverse peloric" is used to describe them. I have never heard the term "half peloric" being used.

Susan

Susan,

What do you call a flower that has only one petal or one sepal showing peloric?

CL

My description would be that one petal is peloric. I would not have a specific term for it, though "half peloric" would be appropriate. I just have not heard that terminology.

Thinking about this further, I think my response was not entirely clear. All types of peloria are called "peloric". Referring to "semi-peloric", "reverse peloric", or "half peloric", or whatever other terms people choose to use are simply further classification of peloria. When I responded to Judi, I said "Yes" meaning the flower is peloric. Referring to semi-peloric is the classification I have seen used to describe the degree of peloria in this particular flower.

Susan

Ok, I understand now. Before I started this thread I tried to find the definition of peloric, but I found different meanings ranging from any irregularity to the chid having 3 lips. I guess there are just varying degrees of peloria, which makes perfect sense. Thanks everyone for the clarification!