Phalaenopsis chibae

Description

Phalaenopsis chibae T. Yukawa, 1996 is a plant ofthe Orchidaceae family endemic to Vietnam. It is a small orchid, with epiphytic behavior, like all species of the genus Phalaenopsis with monopodial growth. It has a short stem, wrapped in elliptical to obovate leaves, green slightly tinged with purple. Flowering occurs by means of a racemose inflorescence that projects laterally, erect, on average 11 centimeters long, like the leaves suffused with purple and normally carrying 13 flowers. These are just over an inch in size, open simultaneously and are variegated yellow with dark red. The sepalsthey are ovate-shaped with acute apex, much larger than the petals which have a lanceolate shape. The lip is bilobed and very large in relation to the size of the flowers. The species is a Vietnamese endemism. It grows epiphytic on the trees of the tropical forest, at altitudes between 400 and 600 meters above sea level. This plant is well grown in hanging baskets, on cork support or on tree ferns and requires bright but shady exposure in cultivation, with high temperatures all year round, to be reduced just after flowering.