Phalaenopsis Equestris

Hot Shade Medium watering Medium humidity

Common Name The Horse Phalaenopsis

Flower Size 1" [1.5 to 3 cm]

Found from the Philippines to Taiwan as a small sized epiphyte near streams in hot to warm valleys at an altitude of sealevel to 300 meters.

It is a hot growing, monopodial epiphyte with a short stem enveloped by several limbricating leaf bases and carrying to 5, fleshy, recurved, oblong-elliptic to oblong-ovate, acute or subobtuse leaves that is highly adaptable to various environments and is easy to grow.

This species has a habit of making keikis and can rebloom out of old spikes and can continue to send off branches so they are best left uncut.

They appreciate a drier winter although never left to dry out completely.

Flowers are possible at almost any time of the year although the peak is September through April on a suberect to arcuate, to 12" [30 cm] long, racemose or paniculate, denesly many flowered inflorescence with small, purple bracts and successive opening flowers. The apex of the inflorescence can at times produce a plantlet.

Synonyms Phalaenopsis equestris f. alba hort. 1969; Phalaenopsis equestris f. alba [Hort] E A Christensen 2001; Phalaenopsis equestris f. aurea Christenson 2001; Phalaenopsis equestris f. cyanochila O.Gruss 2001; Phalaenopsis equestris [Schauer] Rchb.f var alba {Hort.] Sweet 1967; Phalaenopsis equestris [Schauer] Rchb.f var leucaspis Rchb.f 1881; Phalaenopsis equestris [Schauer] Rchb.f var leucotanthe Rchb.f 1883; Phalaenopsis equestris var. rosea Valmayor & D.Tiu in H.L.Valmayor 1984 ; Phalaenopsis esmeralda auct. non rchb.f ?, Phalaenopsis riteiwanensis Masaume 1934, Phalaenopsis rosea Lindley 1848; Phalaenopsis rosea var aurantiaca Gower 1892; Phalaenopsis rosea var deliciosa Barb. 1882; Phalaenopsis rosea var leucaspis [Rchb.f] Rolfe 1886; Phalaenopsis stauroglottis [Schauer] Rchb.f 1881; *Stauroglottis equestris Schauer 1843; Stauroglottis riteiwanensis (Masam.) Masam. 1934