Phaius australis - Page 3 - Orchid Board

OrchidLover1982 · #21 10-14-2008, 05:26 AM

Australis has striations on the petals and sepals and the labellum is quite distinctive. It has quite unique patterning. Red/purple and yellow lines extending down its length from front to back to near where the spur is on the inside of the labellum. The labellum also usually does not overlap the column but some forms do. The leaves on australis are different as well i have noticed. They are not as broad, as rigid or as dark green as either wallichii or tankervilleae. Here is another flower pic, note the patterning on the inside of the labellum. Even the forms with the overlapping labellum that some confuse with tankervilleae have this patterning. In my opinion the labellum is definitely the most destinguishing feature with its colour and patterning which you will not see in either tankervilleae or wallichii. The other species don't have the intricate patterning.

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SueK · #22 10-15-2008, 03:13 AM

Thanks for your reply. You hae given a eally good description of australis. By the way I forgot to give you the link to the website I found, so here it is if you want to have a look at it. DECC | Phaius australis (a tall swamp orchid) - endangered species listing

Sue

OrchidLover1982 · #23 10-15-2008, 06:09 PM

glad i could be of some help. Maybe you can help promote the species at your local club. It needs a place in more collections i believe. More people need to be growing and propagating it to ensure its survival into the future.

Bloomin_Aussie · #24 03-10-2009, 11:48 PM

If anyone is interested... Easy Orchids are selling seedlings of Ph. bernaysii which is a 'species' (there is speculation that it is another form of australis) limited in habitat to the islands off the SE QLD coast. Considering the limited wild population I think it is well worth growing (as is Ph. australis)

To be honest I don't know too much about Ph. bernaysii but the pictures I have found show its flowers to be similar in shape to Ph. australis except that they are bright yellow instead of red-brown. Looks quite striking and I'm looking forward to mine maturing.

OrchidLover1982 · #25 03-12-2009, 06:11 PM

bernaysii is very similar to australis except a different colour. Some think its a different variety rather than different species. Either way its a very rare plant (almost extinct in the wild i have heard). I have a few half grown plants that have not yet flowered.

Bloomin_Aussie · #26 03-12-2009, 07:32 PM

David Jones' Native Orchids of Australia refers to it as Phaius australis var bernaysii but I don't see too many other sources referring to it that way. I read somewhere that a genetic study was being done on the Australian Phaius species so I guess that will put an end to the speculation.

charmbutterfly · #27 03-12-2009, 07:59 PM

This is the most beautiful Phaius i've seen! Send me a seed!

Cym Lover · #28 03-31-2009, 08:04 PM

Thanks for the links, guys. I'll try and pick up a Ph. bernaysii soon.

I agree, we need to focus on growing the species that are in danger. Even if they aren't "in fashion" now, they are still a precious part of orchid history. Its such a shame that wiith so much variety around, the same five orchid genus are all most people will grow.

Bloomin_Aussie · #29 03-31-2009, 08:18 PM

Well, I'm happy to start a new trend

Down with the five boring old genera!!! LOL

Cym Lover · #30 04-01-2009, 01:12 AM

Inspired by this thread I just stared an Australian Natives social group:

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...n-natives.html

I figured it would be a good place to talk about the rare and unpopular guys that need to be cultivated more often in order to keep them from extinction.