Skip to main content Smithsonian Institution

Phaius tankervilleae var. alba 'Windy Hill'

Catalog Data

Life Form:
Terrestrial
Bloom Characteristics:
Many matte blooms open simultaneously and grow on an inflorescence which is 24-48" long. Flowers are 4-5" across, and last 17-18 days. Plants from Java self pollinate, leading to a shorter lifespan for the flower.
Foliage Characteristics:
Variegated foliage.
Fragrance:
Fragrant
Range:
SE Asia; Australia; Africa
Habitat:
Grassy fields, moist forests, swamps; 0-1300m
Bloom Time (Northern Hemisphere):
October to July; peak in February through April
Ethnobotanical Uses:
Pseudobulbs used in India to strengthen twine for fishing nets.
Medicinal / Pharmaceutical:
In Java, the pseudobulbs are made into a poultice to soothe pain from abscess. In the southern highlands of Papua, women eat the smoked flowers with food to aid in conception.
Provenance:
From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
Topic:
Orchids  Search this
Living Collections  Search this
Common Name:
Nun's Orchid clonal variety
Group:
[vascular plants]
Class:
Equisetopsida
Subclass:
Magnoliidae
Superorder:
Lilianae
Order:
Asparagales
Family:
Orchidaceae
Subfamily:
Epidendroideae
Genus:
Phaius
Species:
tankervilleae
Accession Number:
2018-0489B
Restrictions & Rights:
CC0
See more items in:
Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection
Data Source:
Smithsonian Gardens
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ax79cb1aede-474d-47bb-bf4c-53dfe905c5ed
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:ofeo-sg_2018-0489B