Some Notes about the Genus Doritis Lindl.
Most of us grow some Phalaenopsis, perhaps species, certainly hybrids. One genus of orchids, the Doritis, is so closely related to the Phalaenopsis that at various times they were actually not called Doritis but Phalaenopsis.
In his latest revision of the genus Phalaenopsis, Eric Christensen has again, placed the Doritis in this genus. There are some minor differences between the two: the Doritis has a bit of chin (mentum); the pollinia count in Doritis is different from some Phalaenopsis but not all. The DNA testing certainly puts both genera closely together. From what I can read in my books, it seems that there is only one rather variable species of Doritis, the Dor. pulcherrima (now probably called Phal. pulcherrima). It is considered to be, in its normal habitat, a terrestrial plant, to which the strong upright flower stems would testify.
 Doritis pulcherrima |
It blooms during the summer into fall and can tolerate quite a lot of light. Since this species is very wide spread (growing in Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Malay peninsula and Sumatra), there are a number of variations, mainly in the colour of the flowers. They can be a dark crimson red, which some call the ‘esmeralda’ form, various shades of pink and rose to pure white or lavender (blue), violet and inky purple. There are also some peloric forms that have nice yellow colour on the petals; these forms were first found in the Thai province of Chumporn, therefore they have been named Doritis pulcherrima var. chumpornensis. Then there is Doritis pulcherrima variety buyssoniana. At first, Sander’s used this name for plants with smaller flowers. Now, more often than not, the plants that show strong growth and have larger flowers are given this varietal name. Again, this variety can come in as many different colours as the regular form; the flowers of this variety often have spotted lower sepals. Many consider this variety to be polyploid.
There are a number of intergeneric crosses with Doritis; the only one of the genus Phalaenopsis, which crosses readily with Doritis, is the species Phal. equestris. Yet, hybridizers seem to be a persistent lot and yes, other Phalaenopsis have been crossed with Doritis, as well as many other genera of the Sarcanthinae. I am wondering if now hybrid genera names like Gastritis and Pelatoritis will disappear.
For me, the two most memorable crosses with Doritis are: First, the old Doritaenopsis Memoria Clarence Schubert ‘Malibu Dream’ CCM/AOS from 1974. The official description of this one reads like this: Single spike with many branches espaliered on a frame, seventy-five flowers; plant eight feet tall in a 12-inch tub; deep rosy lavender tepals with spotting at base of lateral sepals, darker rose lip with side lobes and pink dots. Natural spread of flower 8.0 cm etc. etc. Exhibitor was Arthur Freed Orchids, inc. in Malibu, California. The second plant is the unusual hybrid Hausermannara Lucie Hausermann ‘York’ JC/AOS from 1975, where the above plant was crossed with a Vandopsis parishii, which also made a nicely robust specimen. Imagine: I just managed to acquire one!
For more information about Doritis and its new status, please, get Dr. Christensen’s new book on Phalaenopsis and read why we now won’t have to make two separate groupings in our show schedules for Phalaenopsis.and Doritaenopsis. I thank Eric for his kindness and ever-ready assistance and promise to buy his book.
PS. I did.
Ingrid Schmidt-Ostrander - Canadian Orchid Congress