Unknown Phal - Orchid Board

shakkai · #1 02-09-2007, 01:28 PM

When I was in Beijing late last year, I came across a pattern on some Phals that I found quite striking. Does anyone know of the name of one that has this kind of markings?

Closer shot of another plant:

Many thanks!
Shannan

Phantasm · #2 02-09-2007, 01:44 PM

There is so much strange breeding going on in Phals these days so it could be something new, or it is virused.

shakkai · #3 02-09-2007, 02:27 PM

Searched a bit more... difficult, because I didn't even know what to call this. It's not stripes, more like splashes...

Anyway, I've got some names now:

Harlequin Phalaenopsis from Orchidview

... but none of them appear to have as bright a colour as these ones. Possibly, they are Dtps, which are brighter.

smartie2000 · #4 02-09-2007, 02:53 PM

Those are very pretty and new too

gerneveyn · #5 02-10-2007, 07:38 PM

You could show the picture to Peter Lin of Big Leaf Orchids or another phal hybridizer as they may be able to help you identify it.

shakkai · #6 02-10-2007, 08:11 PM

Thanks for the suggestion. Are they open to inquiries like that?

gerneveyn · #7 02-10-2007, 08:34 PM

Yes. There's a forum on Bigleaforchids.com where you can post your photo; some phal hybridizers are members of that forum.

Ironwood · #8 02-10-2007, 11:35 PM

Pine Ridge Orchids have some that are similar. They have some of the most vivid and colorful phals I have ever seen.

They even a couple that do not seem to have a lip, just 3 petals that all look the same.

This is a link to their site but I will caution you, all the info on their site downloads as one page, about a 3 to 5 minute job at high speed, at least it seems that long I never really timed it.
Pine Ridge Orchids:

Oscarman · #9 02-11-2007, 02:43 AM

I have seen this type of pattern before, it IS very different and first made me think that it was virused. Not really sold on them, although yours are very colorful Shannan.

cneos · #10 02-11-2007, 05:44 PM

If these plants were virused, legitimate vendors wouldn't sell them and the AOS wouldn't judge them.
I have Dtps. Minho Princess that has a color pattern similar to yours. The award description for 'Watercolor Artist' HCC/AOS describes the color pattern as "brush marks." The color pattern of your plant is more pleasing than some harlequins that I've seen but 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder.'
When examples of novelty breeding come to the judging table, my advisor suggests we evaluate a flower as if it is pure white; if it meets judging criteria for form and arrangement, then move on to color ... this works.
Also, orchids that have, for example, three petals that all look alike or that have three lips are 'peloric' orchids. It's a haphazard occurence that may be reproduced in cloning. Flowers that are peloric on their first bloom are usually normal on subsequent flowerings. (Remember the double dorsal on "The Fluke"?)
Finally, you might contact Howard Ginsberg at BedfordOrchids.com - he's doing lots of novelty breeding in partnerships with Canadian, Taiwanese and American growers.