Quite right. What I refer to as "alba" of the violacea type is more aptly "alboflava" as the flower is not entirely white, but is devoid of anthocyanins. A true "alba" would be all white as the name implies, but unfortunately we are sloppy with our naming, especially since we are not trained taxonomists, but have the authority to slap names upon a plant. Dr.Braem, feel free to bash my skull in with any corrections.
For a greater understand of color designations and their proper use, please refer to my webpage: http://www.nascentorchids.com/color_designations.html As to the misrepresentation, if these suppliers have been breeding phalaenopsis for any amount of time over a few years, especially for any commercial purpose, there is a certain amount of doubt I have for these experts to claim they didn't know it wasn't a true alba. The simple test would have been the mating of a normal form with the suspected albino, having the F1s produce all normal coloration without washout, or it producing 1/4 true alba as the other parent might have had a recessive alba gene. Either way, I do hold those who sell their plants as responsible for the knowledge of what it is they have. I have, as of yet, to be contacted by anyone who is sure their violacea is an albino, but then again I also haven't ever been accused of having a charming personality. Steve
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