What is 'alba' in orchids? To those who is still new in orchid growing, the terms refers to the all white flower variants of the normally coloured orchids. A rare traits that can occur in every orchids.
According to Ned Nash, populations of color variants, whether alba, coerulea, semi-alba, aquinii or whatever, are generally the result of population isolation and in-breeding. This would tend to make these populations exhibit some of the other traits that one might expect from in-breeding such as growing poorly, low fertility or other symptoms of weakness. This is not to say that all color variants are poor growers, of course. However, it does explain why there is probably not one common factor that would improve the culture of all alba types. Too, it does say that there is plenty of anecdotal information about albas, such as the fact that Paphiopedilum bellatulum var. alba was, until quite recently, considered one of the most difficult orchids to grow well. Cattleya guttata var. alba can be particularly sensitive to when it is repotted, as well as to the condition of its medium. If there was a generalization, it might be that the grower should simply be aware that albas, or other color variants, have the potential to be more finicky, and be accordingly observant of their behavior.
According to Ned Nash, populations of color variants, whether alba, coerulea, semi-alba, aquinii or whatever, are generally the result of population isolation and in-breeding. This would tend to make these populations exhibit some of the other traits that one might expect from in-breeding such as growing poorly, low fertility or other symptoms of weakness. This is not to say that all color variants are poor growers, of course. However, it does explain why there is probably not one common factor that would improve the culture of all alba types. Too, it does say that there is plenty of anecdotal information about albas, such as the fact that Paphiopedilum bellatulum var. alba was, until quite recently, considered one of the most difficult orchids to grow well. Cattleya guttata var. alba can be particularly sensitive to when it is repotted, as well as to the condition of its medium. If there was a generalization, it might be that the grower should simply be aware that albas, or other color variants, have the potential to be more finicky, and be accordingly observant of their behavior.
It also says that albinism is an active phenomenon, i.e., some active genes need to supress
the colors, not a simply passive 'absence' of colors!
So we can say that 'alba' orchids are very special in terms of their rarity. But if there's even less plants found with an alba type of flowers, they will be highly valued. There are 'alba' orchids that are easily found sold that has already been bred in mass such as Dendrobium purpureum, Cattleya intermedia, Dendrobium anosmum or Rhyncostylis gigantea, just to name a few, but when orchids that have never been found alba turns out to be in that variants be it in cultivation or found in wild, they will surely commanding a very high price.
Orchids that have petals and sepals (mainly white with or without splash) but with coloured lips were known as semi-alba..this type also considered special..
There are other terms that has the same meaning as 'alba' such as 'album', 'albescens' or 'virginalis'..
So, thats a little bit info for you on 'alba' terms especially for newbies in orchids.. Not much. but at least for a better understanding rather than just knowing that alba means 'no colour' or 'white' !
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Seringkali
kita melihat ada nama-nama orkid yang mempunyai perkataan 'alba' dan
ramai yang tahu bahawa secara umumnya ialah orkid yang 'tiada warna' ..Ini adalah varian yang jarang berlaku kepada jenis orkid yang biasanya
berwarna..Bagi yang lama berkecimpung dalam bidang orkid ni sudah kenal..tetapi bagi yang baru mungkin ada yang masih kurang
jelas berkenaan 'alba' ini..
Menurut Ned Nash iaitu seorang ahli botani, populasi varian-varian
warna orkid seperti 'alba, coerulea, semi-alba, aquinii dan
lain-lain lagi, secara umumnya terjadi akibat keterasingan dan kacukan
sesama sendiri dalam satu-satu populasi orkid. Hasil kacukan sebegini
adakalanya boleh menyebabkan pokok orkid ini lebih sukar untuk tumbuh,
tahap kesuburan yang rendah atau kelemahan-kelemahan lain yang
berkaitan. Namun ini bukanlah untuk mengatakan bahawa semua varian warna
ini mempunyai kadar pertumbuhan yang kurang baik, kerana bukan hanya
satu faktor yang menentukan kadar kejayaan penanaman orkid 'alba' ini.
Antara contoh ialah, Paphiopedilum bellatulum var. alba kerana
sehinggalah baru-baru ini dianggap antara yang paling sukar untuk tumbuh
dengan baik. Begitu juga dengan Cattleya guttata var. alba yang lebih
sensitif semasa penukaran pasu dan media penanamannya. Oleh itu
berdasarkan pemerhatian boleh dikatakan bahawa setiap peminat orkid
perlu menyedari yang 'alba' ataupun varian-varian warna lain ada 'ragam' berbanding dengan jenisnya yang normal.
Dikatakan
juga bahawa 'alba' adalah satu fenomena aktif, yakni ada beberapa gen
aktif telah 'menghalang' warna asal dari muncul, bukan seperti yang selalu
kita fahami iaitu kekurangan warna secara pasif !
Jadi kita boleh katakan bahawa bunga 'alba' ni adalah istimewa kerana
jarang dilihat atau jarang berlaku bukan sahaja kepada orkid tetapi
kepada tumbuhan mahupun haiwan termasuklah manusia!. Bagi orkid ia
menjadi varian yang berharga.Semua jenis orkid berpotensi untuk menjadi
'alba'. Ada orkid jenis alba yang senang diperolehi seperti Dendrobium
purpureum, Cattleya intermedia, Dendrobium anosmum atau Rhyncostylis
gigantea, sekadar menyebut beberapa nama..manakala ada yang masih
ditunggu variannya yang serba putih ini..Kalau ada yang dijumpai
sudah pasti akan mencapai harga yang tinggi..
Berkenaan dengan istilah 'semi-alba' pula merujuk kepada varian bunga
yang sebahagian besarnya berwarna putih (atau ada sedikit 'calitan' tak
kira lah terang ke, gelap ke) Selalunya bahagian 'lip' sahaja yang
berwarna penuh atau sedikit. Senangnya 'separuh putih' lah..
Selain 'alba' ada istilah lain yang digunakan untuk orkid yang membawa maksud yang sama iaitu 'album', 'albescens' dan 'virginalis'.
Jadi inilah sedikit informasi berkaitan 'alba' untuk yang baru dengan
orkid. Jadi 'alba' tu bukanlah maksudnya 'tiada warna' atau 'putih' semata-mata!
Alba Species..
Biasanya pada orkid 'alba' ini sama ada kesemuanya putih bersih ,
semuanya hijau atau pun kombinasi hijau dan putih
seperti seperti Euanthe Sanderiana ini..
semuanya hijau atau pun kombinasi hijau dan putih
seperti seperti Euanthe Sanderiana ini..
Normally the 'alba' is all white, all green or combination of both..
like this Euanthe sanderiana.
Coelogyne cristata ini 'lip'nya putih bersih..
Bunga asalnya pun putih jugak tapi 'lip' bertompok kuning..
Even though this Coelogyne cristata's flower are already white
but the absence of yellow in the throat makes it the 'alba' variant.
Cattleya forbesii
Calanthe rubens, The normal flowers are pink..
Vanda Coerulea
The pure white like this one still commanding a very high price..
Laelia superbiens alba
formerly known as Schomburgkia superbiens
formerly known as Schomburgkia superbiens
Paphiopedilum micranthum from China.
Orchis simia (monkey orchid)
Paphiopedilum philippinense
A magnificent display of Dendrobium anosmum
Bulbophylum pectenveneris
Disa uniflora
Pahiopedilum malipoense
Masdevallia amabilis
Phaius tankervillae
Laelia purpurata
Some of the 'alba' hybrids...
Paphiopedilum Maudiae.. The famous 'alba' paphs hybrid.
Lc. Canhamiana alba, ini antara hybrid lama yang sukar untuk
dihasilkan semula sebab perlukan spesis Laelia purpurata var alba yang
betul untuk di kacukkan dengan Cattleya mossiae alba. kalau silap pilih
anak-anaknya nanti akan keluar macam-macam warna !.
Lc. Canhamiana alba, it is hard to a
'remake' of this alba variety, 'cause if you don't use the 'correct' Laelia
purpurata alba (to cross with C. mossiae alba), the result will be lots of
colorful plants! The 'correct' and the 'wrong' L purpurata alba are
phenotipically albas (source: Silva, W. Cultivo de Orquídeas no Brasil, Editora
Nobel, 1976)
Cattleya Sea Breeze (warneri alba x walkeriana alba)
Semi-alba variants : Species
Broughtonia sanguinea
Cattleya amethystoglossa
Cattleya percivalliana semi-alba Farah Diba
Pleione formosana
Cattleya labiata
Cattleya maxima
Laelia purpurata
Sobralia macrantha
Some of the 'semi-alba' hybrids..
Lc. Chyong Guu Swan
(Lc. Wayndora x Lc. Persepolis)
Phalaenopsis Pinlong Cardinal
'Alba' atau 'semi alba' pada saya semuanya cantik dengan cara tersendiri..Sesetengahnya mungkin lebih menarik daripada warna yang asal..apa-apa pun bergantung kepada citarasa masing-masing !
Some of the 'semi-alba' hybrids..
Lc. Chyong Guu Swan
(Lc. Wayndora x Lc. Persepolis)
Blc. Glenn Maidment 'Aranbeam'
Phalaenopsis Pinlong Cardinal
'Alba' atau 'semi alba' pada saya semuanya cantik dengan cara tersendiri..Sesetengahnya mungkin lebih menarik daripada warna yang asal..apa-apa pun bergantung kepada citarasa masing-masing !
Both albas and semi albas stands out in their own right, I think some do look better than the normal ones, but that's a matter of taste and preference of course..!
“White covers a multitude of sins.”
- Jonathan Milne
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