Phalaenopsis subparishii, also known as 短茎萼脊兰 (duan jing e ji lan) in Chinese, is a species of epiphytic orchid endemic to China.
Distribution It occurs in the Chinese provinces Fujian, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, and Zhejiang at altitudes of 300–1100 m.Wu, Z., & Raven, P. H. (2009). "Flora of China, Volume 25: Orchidaceae. p. 484." Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
Description The 1 to 1.5 cm long stems bear 1–10 cm long and 2.4-3.3 cm wide, alternate leaves. Inflorescences are between 9 and 10 cm in length and bear flowers with yellowish green, spotted petals and sepals. The spotting is pale brown on the adaxial surface. The midlobe bears lavender spotting. The horn-shaped spur ranges from 0.9 to 1.1 cm in length. The plants have four pollinia in two pairs. The species is closely related to Phalaenopsis tsii, which is however smaller than Phalaenopsis subparishii and it has a larger, white labellum in addition to a longer spur and column.Li, M. H., Zhang, G. Q., Liu, Z. J., & Lan, S. R. (2014). "Revision of Hygrochilus (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Aeridinae) and a molecular phylogenetic analysis." Phytotaxa, 159(4), 256-268.
Etymology The specific epithet subparishii expresses an affinity to Phalaenopsis hygrochila (syn. Hygrochilus parishii). It does not express an affinity to Phalaenopsis parishii.
Phylogeny This species is the sister species of Phalaenopsis hygrochila, as can be seen in the following cladogram:Li, M. H., Gruss, O., & Liu, Z. J. (2016). "Nomenclature changes in Phalaenopsis subgen. Hygrochilus (Orchidaceae; Epidendroideae; Vandeae) based on DNA evidence." Phytotaxa, 275(1), 55-61.
Conservation The IUCN has not assessed this species conservation status. It is however protected unter the CITES appendix II regulations of international trade.Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. (n.d.). Phalaenopsis. Retrieved February 2, 2023, from https://cites.org/eng/taxonomy/term/33584 Also, it is protected under national legislation.Xie, Johan 謝仲恩. (2018, September 14). Phalaenopsis subparishii 短莖蝴蝶蘭. 蘭花的故事. Retrieved February 2, 2023, from https://orchid-story.blogspot.com/2018/09/sedirea-subparishii.html
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