Orchids
A division of the Camden Park catalogues that is very clearly defined. All plants in the category belong to the family Orchidaceae, the largest family in the plant kingdom.
Paphiopedilum insigne (Wall. ex Lind.) Pfitzer
Frost-tender terrestrial orchid with lance-shaped, yellowish leaves, to 30cm long, and solitary ladies’ slipper flowers, to 10cm across, yellow-bronze in colour, with pale green–yellow, spotted upper sepals, but very variable in colour and size. To 15cm. There are many named forms. [RHSE, Pridgeon].
Paphiopedilum purpuratum (Lindl.) Stein.
Frost-tender terrestrial orchid with white ladies’ slipper flowers, shaded green and purplish-red with dorsal stripes. [RHSD, Hortus].
Paphiopedilum venustum (Wall.) Pfitzer
Half hardy orchid with short, bluish-green leaves with purplish veins, and solitary ladies’ slipper flowers, greenish white with purplish stripes, in winter. [RHSD].
Peristeria elata Lindl.
Epiphytic orchid with 3- to 5-leaved pseudo-bulbs, the leaves plicate, and an erect spike, to 90cm, of up to 40 fragrant white flowers, spotted lilac on the base of the lip. [RHSD, Hortus].
Peristeria pendula Hook.
Epiphytic orchid with pseudo-bulbs to 15cm, leaves to 45cm and pendant 4-6-flowered racemes of fragrant, pale yellow flowers, spotted red and brown. Reportedly shy to flower in cultivation. [RHSD, Hortus].
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].
Phaius maculatus Lindl.
Ground orchid with large, ovate pseudo-bulbs, leaves to 60cm, usually spotted white or yellow, and short spikes bearing numerous bright yellow flowers. [RHSD, Hortus].
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].
Phalaenopsis amabilis (L.) Blume var. grandiflora
Frost-tender, epiphytic orchid with semi-pendant, oval leaves, to 50cm long, and pendant racemes of numerous white flowers, to 10cm across, with yellow-margined lips and red throat markings, from autumn to spring. To 30cm. Grandiflora has larger flowers and the base of the labellum is stained with golden yellow. The leaves tend to be broader and paler than the type. [RHSE, Hortus, Pridgeon, Blombery, Jennings].
Pholidota imbricata (Roxb.) Lindl.
Epiphytic orchid with pseudobulbs bearing 1 leathery leaf, and apical inflorescences forming a pendant, 2-ranked pseudospiral of pinkish flowers in spring. [RHSD, Jones, Pridgeon, Hortus].
Renanthera coccinea Lour.
Frost-tender epiphytic orchid with a very long, branched inflorescence bearing many vermilion-red flowers, marked with yellow, in summer. [RHSD, Hortus].
Rossioglossum grande (Lindl.) Garay & G.C.Kenn.
Frost-tender epiphytic orchid with lance-shaped, leathery leaves, to 20cm long, and erect racemes of up to 8, glossy, chestnut brown and yellow flowers, to 12cm across, spotted red, brown or yellow, with white lips, in autumn and winter. To 35cm. [RHSE, Pridgeon, Hortus, Jennings].
Sarcochilus falcatus R.Br.
Small, frost-tender, epiphytic orchid with fleshy leaves, to 16cm long, and slender racemes of up to 10, white, orange-blossom-scented flowers, with yellow and purple markings, in spring. [RHSD, Jones, FNSW, Pridgeon, Beadle].
Sarcochilus hillii F.Muell.
Frost tender epiphytic orchid with drooping stems, to 5cm, slender, linear leaves, to 10cm, often spotted, and an erect inflorescence bearing up to 10, crystalline, white to pale pink flowers, occasionally with yellow markings and purple markings on the labellum, in summer. [Jones, Beadle].
Sarcochilus olivaceus Lindl.
Frost-tender epiphytic orchid with short, thick stems, sickle-shaped leaves, to 14cm long, and axillary racemes of up to 11, olive green to golden flowers, up to 3.5cm across, in spring. [RHSD, Jones, FNSW, Beadle].
