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 tankervilleae (Banks ex L’Hér.) Blume

Frost-tender, semi-evergreen orchid with ovoid pseudobulbs, large, pleated, lance-shaped leaves, to 1m long, and racemes of nodding, fragrant, red-brown flowers, to 8cm across, with pink to purplish-red lips, in spring.  To 1m.  [RHSE, FNSW, Pridgeon].

 

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘A most superb plant, native of the warmer parts of China, and requiring the heat of the stove.  It was introduced by Dr. Fothergill, about 1778. […] In the dreariest season, when all unprotected nature is shivering under ice and snow, how cheering is such a lovely flower!’  [LBC no.20/1817].  ‘The scape grows quite erect, sometimes three feet high, and the spike of flowers will extend to two feet.  The singular chesnut-brown [sic] colour of the inside of the petals, contrasted with the perfect white of their outsides, and the fine white nectarium shaded and streaked with crimson, give the flower a striking and beautiful appearance.’  [BM t.1924/1817].

 

History at Camden Park

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 or confused the Australian native species Phaius australis [which see] 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 - 04:40 PM | Last updated Oct 21, 2011 - 03:00 PM

An orchid with lance-shaped leaves and red-brown flowers with pink to purple lips.  Curtis's Botanical Magazine t.1924, 1817.

Phaius tankervilleae (Banks ex L’Hér.) Blume | BM t.1924/1817 | BHL

 

Family Orchidaceae
Category
Region of origin

Asia

Synonyms
  • Bletia tankervilliae (Aiton) R.Br.

 

Common Name

Chinese swamp orchid

Name in the Camden Park Record

Bletia Tankervilliae 

 

Confidence level low