Mar 24, 2016
Phaius tankervilleae is in the family Orchidaceae. Commonly known as swamp orchid or nun’s orchid, it is native to India and Southeast Asia, although it is naturalized in other parts of the world outside it’s native range including Florida. This is a terrestrial orchid species which, unlike epiphytic orchids which grow on other plants, can grow directly in the soil. Along with other popular cultivated terrestrial orchids, such as Cymbidium, Spathoglottis, and Pleione varieties, this species is becoming widely available in the orchid trade. However, this comes at a cost, as populations of P. tankervilleae in the wild are threatened by illegal poaching as well as habitat loss.
