Phalaenopsis hygrochila
Phalaenopsis hygrochila, also known as 湿唇兰 (shi chun lan) in Chinese, is a species of epiphytic orchid native to Assam, Borneo, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Laos, Malaya, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sumatera, Thailand, Vietnam and West Himalaya. This species has a complex taxonomic history and has been previously assigned to several genera. The extensive list of synonyms may be explained by this species wide distribution, its early discovery and unusual morphology compared to other species of the genus "Phalaenopsis". Description. The 5–10 cm, sometimes up to 20 cm long stems are 8–15 mm wide and enclosed  within persistent leaf sheaths. They bear oblong to obovate-oblong, unequally bilobed, coriaceous leaves, between 17 and 29 cm in length and 3.5-5.5 cm in width. Yellow flowers of 4–5 cm in diameter with purple spotting and a white lip with lavender colouration on the midlobe are produced on 5-8 flowered, axillary and often pendent inflorescences. One plant may produce up to 6 inflorescences at a time. Flowering occurs throughout June and July. The diploid chromosome count is 2n = 38. Each pollinium is completely divded into two unequal halves. The seeds are 238.7 µm long and 81.2  µm wide. Ecology. The plants are found in open forests in elevations of 700–1300 m. Conservation. This species is protected unter the CITES appendix II regulations of international trade. Horticulture. It has been utilized as an ornamental plant and cut flowers have been traded commercially, both locally and internationally. Artificial propagation and genetic transformation protocols were established.