Pheli. Nice photo. Just some info about this hybrid.
The other den you previously posted was a mutation caused by the mericloning process and the flower structure was very disorganized and irregular. This current photo is not really anything like that.
In fact, your current photo is the result of a deliberate breeding line started in Australia, continued in Hawaii, then perhaps continued elsewhere, or mericloned. 20 years ago, or more, an Australian hobbyist bloomed a den phal hybrid which had all its normal flower parts, except for one. Normally, the flower would have had 3 sepals, 2 petals, a lip and the reproductive parts. However, the Australian flower (I believe it was called D'Bush Classic) had 3 petals and no lip.
Since that flower, like yours, has its reproductive parts, it could breed. The owner selfed, then line-bred the plant. Some of the offspring came to Hawaii and were further bred. Kuranda Classic (Australian) and Classic Gem (Hawaii) were two registered hybrids in this type of breeding. This type of hybrid was commonly referred to as "pansy type" dens or "3 lipped" den because of their appearance.
The 3 lipped peloric habit was a recessive trait and was generally lost when out-bred, making the breeding line somewhat of a dead end. Most of the hybrids were relatively weak compared to other dens and the flower spikes were rather short. So, other than being a novelty for a little while, the breeding line was not actively pursued.
I am posting a couple of our hybrids which we still have growing. The darker one is Den D'Bush Classic x Classic Gem the lighter one is Den Kuranda Classic.
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