Variegated Phaius

[Faerygirl]

I almost put this in the Identification forum, but hoped it might get more notice here, and, well, its not REALLY unidentified...completely heh heh.

About 3-4 years ago, I bought this plant for $10 on eBay. The seller had it advertized as "Variegated Nun's Cap orchid".

Now, I must admit something...I have not exactly been the best "orchid mom" to this plant. I planted it into the ground in the greenhouse between a big Tacca integrifolia (white bat plant) and a medium sized Tri-color Stromanthe. Somehow, without my noticing, those 2 plants grew up and over and literally ate my ground orchid. When I rediscovered it, it was a bit worse for being shaded, so I dug it up and repotted it and now its a lot better. But it may look a bit raggedy in this photo.

This is the first time it is going to bloom (that I KNOW of anyway, what it did down there under the bat plant I have NO idea)

But, it does not look like the bloom is going to be a P. tankerville bloom. There seems to be only ONE bud, and it APPEARS its going to be white, not cream.

The leaves ARE variegated, green with variable white striping. NO DOTS like in P. punctatus.

I don't think its a P. tankerville. I have looked at all the species photos on the Internet Orchid Encyclopedia that there are and not seen my flower. I only say one white flower over there and it has a big red spotted lip. If mine opens up to look likr that, GOOD but I just have to wait and see.

Meanwhile, I thought someone here might be more savvy with the genus Phaius than me, and might be able to help me.

Here are 2 photos, a closeup of the flower bud, and a closeup of the leaves.

[Faerygirl]

here are the leaves

[smartie2000]

I can't ID, but I love the leaves! Great look foliage

[Faerygirl]

Thanks! I am going to clean it up (get that black smut off of it) and replant it in a new more open place, but I have to wait til ALL danger of frost is past so that I can move some " winter greenhouse freeloaders" out into the yard. We're almost there, but we are getting a cold front this weekend and a single night of about 38. So I am sitting tight for a week or 2.

I don't know if anyone here looks at or buys stuff from Asiatica (aka rareplantcollector on eBay) but they have a variegated phaius flavus minor on their website which is close to mine, closest I have seen anyway, but they call it "Moon and Stars" and say it has spots as well as stripes, and that the flower is a waxy yellow, so doesn;t sound the same. It costs about $100, 10 times more than this one was!

[Tommyr]

I LOVE Nun's orchids! Mine is in bloom right now.

Tom

[Barbara]

A rare thing I think. I have a weakness for things with varigated leaves. Thanks for sharing!

[Mahon]

Interesting variegation! Never seen one like that...

I think it will turn out to be a Phaius tankervillea, as I have had different forms yield one or a few flowers, vs. the typical plant with 20+ flowers...

-Pat

[gands]

I may be able to help a little bit on this one. Our variagated Phaius is actually a hybrid. It is ('Big Charlie' x schlecteri) yours could be different of course, but it should have a lighter color of sepals and petals than tanker's do. and will have a dark rose inner lip. Also just a note about the leaves, realizing these are technically lower light plants, even so the more light they get the more variagation they will have.

[dave b]

There is a 'alba' (yellow / white) form of tankervilliea, and looks like what you may have.

[Faerygirl]

Thanks Gands! Yes, I know it needed more light. I plan on removing a big stand of variegated Alocasia odora from in from of my greenhouse still pool in a few weeks and planting the variegated Phaius in its place. That's a very very bright light situation and should help it be at its best in the future.
My regular green Phaius tankervilles are all planted out in the yard, and are all also about to bloom, but I wouldn't risk the variegated one outside.