Family: Orchidaceae
Common Name: Moth orchid

For sheer, breathtaking beauty there is probably no other orchid to rival the moth orchid. They are native to tropical regions of Southeast Asia, the Himalayas, through the Philippines to New Guinea and Australia. Thousands of hybrids have been developed by breeders around the world. They are epiphytic orchids, growing from flat, fleshy roots. The leaves may be plain green or mottled, and individual plants carry from two to six leaves. The flower stems may be upright or arching and pendulous, and may carry from one or two to over 50 blooms. The flowers come in every colour except blue, and flowers of hybrids are striped, barred, spotted and mottled.

Species

P. amabilis is widely distributed through Southeast Asia, extending into north-eastern Queensland. A profusion of large, white flowers are borne on long stems at almost any time of year.

P. amboinensis, from the Moluccas and Borneo, produces yellow flowers, with brown or purplish markings, from spring to summer.

P. schillerana, from the Philippines, has mottled leaves and large, rosy purple flowers, borne on long stems, in winter.

P. stuartiana, also from the Philippines, has similarly mottled leaves. This species has many flower stems bearing white flowers, with white and yellow lower sepals and lip, in winter to spring.

P. violacea, from Malaysia and Borneo, is summer-flowering. The flowers have white dorsal sepals and petals, tinted in green, with purple dots at the base, and purple and white lateral sepals. The lip is a bright violet. The Borneo native has a larger flower.

Cultivation

These orchids need a minimum winter temperature of 18°C (64°F) and high humidity, so a heated greenhouse is required in temperate climates. As they do not have pseudobulbs (only minimal water being stored in the thick leaves) they must not be allowed to dry out. Use a proprietary orchid compost (formulated for epiphytic orchids) and grow in slatted, wooden orchid baskets. Most of the roots will, however, tend to live in the humid open air, clinging to adjacent walls or posts. Light intensity should be relatively low and con-trolled with shadecloth. Good ventilation is essential.

Climate

Humid, tropical climates.