Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Phaius australis F.Muell.

Frost tender, evergreen, colony-forming ground orchid with crowded pseudobulbs, large, pleated, lance-shaped leaves, to 1.25m, and flower stems to 2m with up to 15 flowers.  The flowers are fleshy, reddish-brown internally, whitish outside.  [Jones, FNSW].

Horticultural & Botanical History

Australian native.  I have no information on its introduction to cultivation elsewhere.

History at Camden Park

Introduced to the garden between 1845 and 1850.  Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues under the name Bletia tankervilleae [O.2/1850].  We have insufficient information to determine if Macarthur actually grew Phaius tankervilleae [which see] or confused the Australian native species for this plant.  ‘This species [Phaius tancarvilliae], which is native to China, is regularly but wrongly recorded from Australia.  It is similar to P. australis but has a tightly inrolled labellum tube and an extremely short labellum midlobe.  [Jones].

Notes

Published Feb 17, 2009 - 04:36 PM | Last updated Jul 29, 2010 - 01:21 PM

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Family Orchidaceae
Category
Region of origin

Queensland and northern NSW
Synonyms
Common Name

Common swamp orchid
Name in the Camden Park Record

Bletia Tankervilliae 
Confidence level medium