Phalaenopsis wilsonii, also known as 华西蝴蝶兰 (hua xi hu die lan) in Chinese, is a species of epiphyte in the family Orchidaceae, native to China, Tibet, Myanmar and Vietnam. Additionally it has been recorded in India.Kamba, J., & Deb, C. R. (2021). Phalaenopsis wilsonii (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Vandeae), a new record for India. Rheedea.
Description The 1 cm long stems produce 4-5 oblong to subelliptic, 6.5-8 cm long and 2.6-3 cm wide leaves and greenish, well developed, dorsiventrally flattened, verrucose roots. The leaves often show purple colouration of the abaxial surface and they are shed before flowering, but sometimes 1-2 leaves persist. Flowering occurs throughout April to July. Widely and simultaneously opening, pink flowers are produced on 1-2 suberect or arching, 10-15 flowered racemes. The plants are epiphytes or lithophytes on damp rock found at elevations of 800-2200m a.s.l.Wu, Z., Raven, P. H. (2009). Flora of China. United States: Science Press. The chromosome count is 2n = 2x = 36.Lee, Y. I., Chung, M. C., Kuo, H. C., Wang, C. N., Lee, Y. C., Lin, C. Y., ... & Yeh, C. H. (2017). The evolution of genome size and distinct distribution patterns of rDNA in Phalaenopsis (Orchidaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 185(1), 65-80.
Taxonomy This species is placed within the subgenus Aphyllae, which is characterised by deciduous leaflessness. A source of taxonomic confusion has been the misapplication of this species name to Phalaenopsis honghenensis.Christenson, E. A. (2001). Phalaenopsis: a monograph. Timber Press (OR). Phylogenetic analysis indicated Phalaenopsis wilsonii was closely related to Phalaenopsis lowii. However, other species from the subgenus Aphyllae were not included in this study. Fan, Z. F., Yu, D. Y., & Ma, C. L. (2021). The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Phalaenopsis wilsonii Rolfe, a vulnerable wild moth orchid species (Orchidaceae). Mitochondrial DNA Part B, 6(10), 2903-2905.
Conservation This species has been categorized as vulnerable in China Species Red List.Wang S, Xie Y. 2004. China species red list. Beijing (China): Higher Education Press. It is protected unter the CITES appendix II regulations of international trade.
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