The genus Paraphalaenopsis, abbreviated as Prphln in horticultural trade, is a member of the Orchid family (Orchidaceae

Orchidaceae

The Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...

), consisting of 4 species endemic to Borneo

Borneo

Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....

 and one natural (unconfirmed) hybrid, Paraphalaenopsis × thorntonii (P. denevei × P. serpentilingua).

They are morphologically similar to Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis Blume , abbreviated Phal in the horticultural trade, is an orchid genus of approximately 60 species. Phalaenopsis is one of the most popular orchids in the trade, through the development of many artificial hybrids....

and were a long time considered as species of that genus. Their flowers are similar, but the leaves of Paraphalaenopsis are cylindrical and long (from 35 cm up to 3m in cultivation) and resemble the leaves of the Holcoglossum

Holcoglossum

Holcoglossum is a genus of orchids, in the family Orchidaceae.-Pollination:Rather than depending on insects or even the wind for pollination, scientists have discovered that the orchid Holcoglossum amesianum actually fertilizes itself...

. These are epiphyte

Epiphyte

An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...

s that bloom in early spring.

External links

• Paraphalaenopsis at Orchids Wiki an online Orchid Encyclopedia