doritis-pulcherrima

Even though the genus Doritis includes only one species ,it is still quite confusing . The problem is that the plant is highly variable in appearance and that it has been used for breeding for many years now. It gets hybridized with the genus Phalaenopsis and endows the resulting hybrids -termed Doritaenopsis-with an overall resilience ,resistance to lower temperature ,as well as pink-to-purple shades of the flowers . It oftern unclear whether a specimen you come across in someone's collection os a ''pedigree'' Doritis or its hybrid. In contrast to Phalaenopsis orchids, the stem of D.pulcherrima is partly extended to resemble a tiny tree trunk ,which makes it impossible for the dark green ,fleshy ,elliptic and somewhat purplish leaves to overlap each other . The inflorescence is erect and numbers 10-15 pinkish purple flowers with the lip colored in a darker shade of purple . With some specimens ,the flower spikes grows back after the flowers fade and it is therefore not recommended to remove it immediately . In the wild, D. pulcherrima is an epiphyte ,and should therefore be cultivated by being mounted in a thick layer of moss on a wooden support ,or planted in a very light bark mixture in a flowerpot . The species blooms in the fall and winter and comes from the vast area of southeastern Asia (Burma,Thailand,Malaysia,Vietnam,Sumatra).