Finding
SITF confirms this plant as Phalaenopsis bellina F. caerulea (Aug 2024). Although it is considered a synonym in POWO, forma caerulea is a taxonomically valid forma first published by O. Gruss et.al. in Orchidee, 2017. This plant matches the description and photos for Phal. bellina forma caerulea in that publication and should be used in the description for this plant.
Overall Length Of Growth Cane: 2cm to crown of plant, plant total height 7.0cm
Number Of Leaves Per Growth Or Cane: 4
Leaf Length: 12.7
Leaf Width: 8.3
Leaf Margin: n/a
Leaf Shape: obovate
Leaf Petiole Length: negligible
Pseudobulb Length: 2.0
Pseudobulb Width: 1.4
Pseudobulb Margin: sympodial
Pseudobulb Distance: n/a
Pseudobulb Root Tip: green
Inflorescence Overall Length: 7.2
Inflorescence Arrangement: arching
Inflorescence Dist Base To Bud: 2.4
Inflorescence Dist Bet Flowers: 1.2
Inflorescence Dist To Sepal: 3.3cm to the base of sepals
Floral Bracts Length: 1.0
Floral Bracts Width: 0.6
Ovary Length: 1.5
Ovary Width: 0.3
Ovary Shape: tubular
Ovary Color: white
Ovary Texture: matte
Flower Natural Spread Length: 5.6
Flower Natural Spread Width: 4.8
Dorsal Sepal Length: 2.8
Dorsal Sepal Width: 1.8
Lateral Sepals Length: 3.0
Lateral Sepals Width: 1.8
Petals Width: 2.0
Judging Center: Carolinas
Award Number: 20242466
Award Date: July 20, 2024
Awarded As: AM
Two flowers and one bud on one inflorescence; sepals and petals white proximally, light green distally, dorsal sepal and petals lightly suffused amethyst basally, lateral sepals heavily suffused amethyst on proximal 2/3 of inferior half; lip white, midlobe deep amethyst centrally, side lobes rich golden yellow; column white overlaid amethyst, anther cap heavily overlaid amethyst, keeled light amethyst; substance hard; texture satin.Origin of plant: Joseph Wu, TaiwanOther Comments: Fragrance noted as particularly light. Definitively chocolate and reminiscent of Phal. lueddemanniana. Anther cap noted as specifically prominent and very heavily keeled. Lip sidelobes shorter in relation to column than expected. Midlobe of lip notably ovoid (obtuse) as opposed to the typical obovate seen in the species. Midlobe keel hairs shorter than typical.
