Phalaenopsis mysorensis C.J.Saldanha

 Phalaenopsis mysorensis C.J.Saldanha, Indian Forester 100(9): 571 (1974).

Phalaenopsis mysorensis C.J.Saldanha, Photos by Mathew Jose Mathew

Family:

Orchidaceae.

Synonym Name: 

Doritis mysorensis (C.J.Saldanha) T.Yukawa & K.Kita

Kingidium niveum C.S.Kumar

Polychilos mysorensis (C.J.Saldanha) Shim

English Name:

The Mysore Phalaenopsis.

Description: 

Epiphytic herb. Roots flat, green, 2.5 mm broad and tapering. Stem short, 4.5 - 6.5 mm. Leaves 2, rarely 3 or 4; oblong elliptic, 2.3 - 4.6 x 0.8 - 1.5 cm; fleshy, coriaceous, base acute narrowed into a short petiole, apex acute unequally bilobed, blade with numerous parallel veins with inconspicuous cross veins. Inflorescence 1.4 - 2 cm long; lateral raceme, green with purplish dots. Floral bracts 1 mm, entire and acute. Pedicel with ovary 2 - 4 mm long. Flowers 1 - 4, white, 6 - 7 mm across; dorsal sepal 4 x 2.5 mm, obovate, 5-veined, obtuse; lateral sepals 4.40 x 3.5 mm, broadly ovate, slightly falcate, 5-veined sub acute; petals 3.6 x 2.5 mm, obovate, slightly falcate, 5-veined, obtuse; lateral veins in all petals and sepals not reaching the tip; lip three lobed; lateral lobes 4.6 x 1 mm, erect, deep yellow, margin slightly toothed, lamellate; lamella single, thick, fleshy, yellow and sub entire; mid lobe 4.6 x 3 mm, base thick, triangular, fleshy with a liner callus, warted within, sub entire or obscurely toothed. Disc with two pairs of asymmetrical antennae that cover the narrow groove of the mid lobe. Column 2 mm long slightly winged with a 2 mm long foot. Operculum 2 celled. Pollinia 0.8 x 0.4 mm, 4 in 2 unequal pairs on a stipes, attached to a  triangular  viscidium.  Capsule  1.3  x  0.4  cm  long, oblong  

Distribution:

India, Sri Lanka.

Its found in the wet and moist vegetation in summit forests of isolated hills above 600 m in the Intermediate zone and Dry zone. Anuradhapura District: Ritigala Strict Nature Reserve (720 m). Kurunegala District: Doluwakanda Forest Reserve (620 m) and Ampara District: Kokagala (660 m). Specimens were collected only from Maragala and Uppukotha hill ranges (1000 - 1100 m) in Monaragala district.  

Ecological:

At elevations of 700 to 1850 m.

Flowering times:

Blooms in the spring.

Flower size:

1.0 - 1.6 cm.

Cultivation:

Grow in warm temperatures. Pot in medium fir bark and keep in partial shade. Water about once a week. Keep plant fairly moist but not wet.

Ref:

orchidspecies.com

ipni.org

powo.science.kew.org

orchids.fandom.com

Fernando, Suranjan & Gunatilleke, IAUN & Gunasekara, Samantha & Gunatilleke, Celestine & Abewardana, UTI. (2009). Phalaenopsis mysorensis Saldanha (Orchidaceae): Note on Distribution and Ecology. Ceylon Journal of Science (biological Sciences). 37. 10.4038/cjsbs.v37i2.503.