Thursday, February 9, 2012

Phaius flavus (The Golden Nun Orchid)
































Phaius flavus is a member of the so-called nun orchid and in my own opinion, it is the loveliest specie. It is not as commonly grown as Pha. tankervilleae, which pretty grown in any warm weather places as landscape plant. The plant originate from mid-high elevation of Himalayas India, Assam, Nepal, South East Asia, Philippines, to as far north as Kyushu Island of Japan and as far south New Guinea.



The leaf of flavus is 3-4 feet long and up to 12" wide and resemble a small palm tree. It may or may not be dotted with white spot. The bulb is 2-4 inch big and shaped like a pear. The flower stalk arise from the base of the bulb and borne up to 20 flowers or more. The flower color range from sulphur yellow to deep yellow and have a orange tipped lip. The flower last a lot longer than Ph. tankervilleae or mishmensis; up to about 2 weeks or more. I keep my plant moist throughout the year it retain the leaf till next spring. But some grower give it a dry winter rest and it will shed the leaf. Ph. flavus will tolerate either ways. Just give it low light because the leaf are very thin and can burn easily from the Sun and it will bloom as soon as the bulb is matured, which usually by July or August in my case.

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