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Phaius

Discussion in 'Orchid Identification Section' started by Marni, May 26, 2012.

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  1. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    This was given to me about 6 years ago by a guest lecturer who had some left over sales plants. It was small plant with a tag that said "Phaius unknown ex Madagascar". It is quite nice, long lasting flowers, upright spike. Does anyone have any thoughts on what it is?

    amarniturkel.com_oi_phaius.dbanks.flwr.jpg

    amarniturkel.com_oi_phaius.dbanks.qtr.jpg

    amarniturkel.com_oi_phaius.dbanks.plant.jpg

    amarniturkel.com_oi_phaius.dbanks.spike.jpg
     
  2. theLab

    theLab Member Supporting Member

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    Hi Marni, I am bad in identifying this genus but got Phaius australis "Madagascan Red" for sowing once. Could that fit anyhow?
    Madagascan/African Phaius (globally ?) have been subsumed to the genus Gastrorchis and those are different in habitus and flower´s shape. So I don´t think the Phaius you show really comes from Madagascar.
     
  3. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Thanks, Matthias. I think you may be right about this being Phaius australis. That's an Australian native and this came from an Australian nursery. I'll do a bit more checking but it certainly matches the many images on google. It is still in flower and I'll take it apart. A very nice thing and now I have some cultural info as well.

    As I understand it, there is only one species of Phaius from Madagascar and that is P. pulchellus. There are several varieties of it and this is not any of them. That is what had me puzzled. I know that the gastrorchis used to be phaius.
     
  4. theLab

    theLab Member Supporting Member

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    oh sorry, posted that a few times, maybe a moderator can clear that please, we had thunderstorms here and the software answered it couldn´t be posted. sorry,
     
  5. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Here is an update on this plant. It isn't australis, that part is certain. I sent the images to David Banks who had given me the plant. Here is his response:

    "This plant is a bit problematic for us, let me explain...
    The seed was collected from a botanical gardens in Madagascar by Murray Shergold well over a decade ago. May even be 20 years. He actually had a plant awarded here (an AM) as the “Madagascan form of Phaius tankervilliae”. Problem is, I don’t believe that species is native to Madagascar, and that the plant at the gardens may have been imported from...???
    The awarded plant was selfed, and yours was one of those seedlings. Out of interest, it is nothing like P. australis. But I would feel more comfortable knowing what its natural origin was."

    To add to this, another friend asked him if the seedlings showed any variety and he said they were like "peas in a pod, all the same."

    Now I see why a lazy google search yielded so many images of this as P australis.
     
  6. theLab

    theLab Member Supporting Member

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    Marni, can you find out which bot. Garden in Madagascar it has been taken from? We have contact to some there, can I use the pictures for asking?
     
  7. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    I've asked if he knows which garden and will let you know what I hear. Yes, you can use the images or just link to this post if that's easier. The images can be seen without logging in.
     
  8. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    I did get two knowledgeable people to agree that this is the Chinese form of Phaius tankervilleae, .
     
  9. Lea Crawford

    Lea Crawford New Member

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    Hi My name is lea and your orchid is definitely Phaius Tankervilleae 'Madagascan Red' I collect Phaius.
     
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  10. prachtorchideen.wordpress

    prachtorchideen.wordpress Member

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