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
Phaius tankervilleae (Banks ex L’Hér.) Blume | BM t.1924/1817 | BHL
| Family | Orchidaceae |
|---|---|
| Category | |
| Region of origin | Asia |
| Synonyms |
|
| Common Name | Chinese swamp orchid |
| Name in the Camden Park Record | Bletia Tankervilliae
|
| Confidence level | low |