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Phaius tankervilleae

(Banks) Blume (1856)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Asparagales Family: Orchidaceae Genus: Phaius

Chinese ground orchid, Chinese ground orchid, nun's cap, nun's hood, nun's orchid, nun's-hood

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Terrestrial or rarely epiphytic perennial herbs up to 13 dm tall.

Stems: Pseudobulbs crowded along and obscuring rhizomes, globose to ovoid, 3-7 cm in diameter, partly enclosed by clasping leaf bases.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Leaves several per pseudobulb, erect or ascending. Blades weakly plicate, elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, 30-120 cm long, 4-10 cm wide. Apex acuminate to acute. Base broadly attenuate. Margins entire. Veins conspicuously raised on lower surface. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in erect, racemose inflorescences arising from the pseudobulb, 5-13 dm long, peduncles stout, inflorescences subtended by a series of foliaceous bracts, each flower ascending or horizontal, gradually becoming pendent with age, subtended by a conspicuous lanceolate to narrowly obovate bract 3-4 cm long. Flowers bisexual (perfect), white to cream-colored externally, pale to dark rusty brown within, fragrant. Sepals spreading, linear-lanceolate, 4-5.5 cm long. Petals spreading, elliptic to obovate, 4-5.5 cm long; labellum white to cream with mauve markings, sometimes also with yellow markings, apex pale pink to white, horizontal or pendent, salverform or funnel form, adnate to base of column, distinctly 3-lobed, lateral lobes embracing the column, middle lobe with conspicuous undulate margins and apiculate apex, base spurred, the spur 6-8 mm long. Stamen 1, adnate to and surrounding the style forming a column. Column clavate, 15-20 mm long. Ovary inferior, 3-carpellate; rostellum absent; stigma deeply recessed.

Fruit: Capsules oblong; ca. 6 cm long.

Ploidy: 2n = 42; 46; 48

Habitat: In shaded or grassy areas in disturbed mesic to wet forest.

Elevation Range: 420–1,230 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Wind

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Mus. Bot. 2: 177 (1856)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1473 (K, O, L, H [as Phaius tankarvilleae]); Oppenheimer et al. 1999:9 (WM); Staples & Herbst 2005:732 (DESCR); Oppenheimer 2007:28 (Mo); Oppenheimer 2008:31 (EM); IPNI 2025 (spelling change to tankervilleae)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Phaius tankervilleae Hualalai, W. slope, Honokahau, Frank Greenwell's paddocks. Preserved_Specimen Kondo, Y. 333 Hawaii BISH 1946-07-26
2 Phaius tankervilleae ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District HUMAN_OBSERVATION -78194139 Hawaii HAPI 4/27/2006
3 Phaius tankervilleae Ridge to Konahuanui Preserved_Specimen Christophersen, E. 1738 Oahu BISH 1931-04-23
4 Phaius tankervilleae West Maui, Kapunakea. Preserved_Specimen Hughes, G.D. 607 Maui BISH 1993-04-13
5 Phaius tankervilleae Tantalus; ridge near Hawaiian telephone Co Preserved_Specimen Pyle, L. Oahu BISH 1985-01-19
6 Phaius tankervilleae Kamahuna Ridge, west of Kealia Epiphytic on treeferns. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 27352 Kauai BISH 1961-03-13
7 Phaius tankervilleae Tantalus; ridge near Hawaiian telephone Co Preserved_Specimen Pyle, L. Oahu BISH 1985-01-19
8 Phaius tankervilleae Kona-Hilo Hwy., ca. 0.8 miles from Park entrance towards Kona, just past sulfer banks Open Metrosideros-Sadleria-Dicranopteris forest community on ash-covered pahoehoe lava. Preserved_Specimen Herb ca. 2 ft. tall. Newell, C.L. 602 Hawaii BISH 1966-08-27
9 Phaius tankervilleae junction of Crater Rim & Job Corps Roads Forest. Preserved_Specimen Sohmer, S.H. 6369 Hawaii BISH 1970-01-08
10 Phaius tankervilleae West slope of Onioe, near Koloa Naturalized on grassy, shrubby slope. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 27764 Kauai BISH 1961-03-16
11 Phaius tankervilleae Hawaii Volcano National Park; near Kilauea Fern jungle. Preserved_Specimen Herb 2' tall; infrequent. Fagerlund, G.O. 860 Hawaii BISH 1943-12-08
12 Phaius tankervilleae Hualalai; W slope, Honokahua Frank Greenwell's paddocks. Preserved_Specimen Kondo, Y. Hawaii BISH 1946-07-26
13 Phaius tankervilleae Kiolakaa - Keaa Homestead Addition, Kau Forest Reserve Common plant in dense shade of Eucalyptus plantings and disturbed Metrosideros forest. Preserved_Specimen Only 2 plants flowering. Others finished, bare stems or a few capsules. Plant 4' tall flowers petals white beneath, brown above. Davis, J. 326 Hawaii BISH 1980-08-13
14 Phaius tankervilleae Wailau Valley In shade. Preserved_Specimen Terrestrial. Oppenheimer, H.L. 80512 Molokai BISH 2005-08-18
15 Phaius tankervilleae Kau district. Keauhou Ranch. Near corral - Kekake jeep trail In open Metrosideros - native shrub habitat. Preserved_Specimen Sterile. Only one patch seen, 1' x 1', less than 1' tall. Davis, J. 242 Hawaii BISH 1980-03-05
16 Phaius tankervilleae East Maui, Makawao District, Kailua Stream, east tributary Uncommon along pipeline. Vegetaion: Metrosideros/Dicranopteris Lowland Wet Forest, with Cheirodendron, Ilex, Perrottetia, Freycinetia, Clermontia, Myrsine, Sadleria, Cibotium, Hedychium, Setaria, Rubus, Nephrolepis, Tibouchina, Clidemia, Paspalum, Juncus, Peperomia. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 30725 Maui BISH 2007-03-28
17 Phaius tankervilleae Kona-Hilo Hwy., ca. 0.8 miles from Park entrance towards Kona, just past sulfer banks Open Metrosideros-Sadleria-Dicranopteris forest community on ash-covered pahoehoe lava. Preserved_Specimen Herb ca. 2 ft. tall. Newell, C.L. 600 Hawaii BISH 1966-08-27
18 Phaius tankervilleae Near Hoopuloa, along main road Naturalized & common in a`a lava forest. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 21819 Hawaii BISH 1952-02-01
19 Phaius tankervilleae Kalihi-Nuuanu Ridge Occasional, established on moist wooded ridge. Preserved_Specimen Flr w/faint sweet perfume; corolla chalky, white outside, lip white outside except braod band at marigin of pale brown shading to madder purple, within madder purple veined longitudinally towards the apical band; other perianth parts chocolate brown, tinged w/madder within. St.John, H. 20283 Oahu BISH 1942-03-22
20 Phaius tankervilleae Kau District, Keauhou Ranch, near corral - Kekake jeep trail In open Metrosideros - native shrub. Preserved_Specimen Sterile. Less than 1' tall. Davis, J. 242 Hawaii BISH 1980-03-05
21 Phaius tankervilleae W Maui, along eastern flank of Honolua Peak In wet forest. Preserved_Specimen Ground orchid, noted to be locally common in this area. Oppenheimer, H.L. 300 Maui BISH 1998-03-24
22 Phaius tankervilleae Along Saddle Road abouve Waikii HUMAN_OBSERVATION 1441951053 Hawaii HAPI 12/22/1997
23 Phaius tankervilleae ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District Preserved_Specimen The plant resembles those of Spathoglottis plicata, but the white flowers make it easy to separate the two plants when they are in flower. Yoshida, L. Hawaii BISH 1979-02-13
24 Phaius tankervilleae Kaneohe; adventitious in garden at 45-090 Namoku St., Cottage N Preserved_Specimen Lvs plicate, emerging from bulb; flr nodding; sepals & petals bronze-tan color, white on reverse side, lip purple-bronze. Medler, J. Oahu BISH 1993-02-23
25 Phaius tankervilleae Hawaii Volcano National Park Abandoned trail in native rain forest. Preserved_Specimen Flr white outside, maroon streaks & maroon lip inside. Gagné, W.C. 661 Hawaii BISH 1972-07-20
26 Phaius tankervilleae SW flank of Mauna Loa; Manuka Ahu Closed Metrosideros forest on a`a substrate w/Cibotium, Nephrolepis, Metrosideros, Psychotria, Styphelia & Vaccinium. Preserved_Specimen Higashino, P.K. 5829 Hawaii BISH 1977-06-19
27 Phaius tankervilleae Mount Tantalus, near Puu Ohia Trail. On same Metrosideros tremuloides as 781988/NW-2022-017. Crest of ridge/hilltop by 2 benches looking out to Manoa Falls (across the valley). . Trees ~3 - 5 m tall, windswept and covered in Bryophytes and lichens. Low canopy hilltop forest with Citharexylum, Cordyline fruticosa, Ardesia crenata, Ardesia eliptica, Dicranopteris linearis, Gingers, epiphytic Peperomia, Miconia crenata (Clidemia hirta), and Elaphoglossum crassifolium. Preserved_Specimen Orchid with pleated fan shaped leaf. Whitish flowers, sepals and petals adaxial sides reddish-orange, white abaxially, labellum semi-tube-like white abaxially and fuchsia-purple inside. Walvoord, N. 2023012 Oahu BISH 2023-04-02
28 Phaius tankervilleae W Maui, along eastern flank of Honolua Peak In wet forest. Preserved_Specimen Ground orchid, noted to be locally common in this area. Oppenheimer, H.L. 300 Maui BISH 1998-03-24
29 Phaius tankervilleae Makaopuhi Crater Preserved_Specimen Stone, B.C. 2990 Hawaii BISH 1959-06-26
30 Phaius tankervilleae South Kona Forest Reserve, ca. 4.5 miles from Milolii on Rt. 11, mauka side of road Preserved_Specimen Sohmer, S.H. 6289 Hawaii BISH 1970-01-07
31 Phaius tankervilleae Hualalai, W. slope, Honokahau, Frank Greenwell's paddocks. Preserved_Specimen Kondo, Y. 333 Hawaii BISH 1946-07-26
32 Phaius tankervilleae ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District HUMAN_OBSERVATION -78194139 Hawaii HAPI 4/27/2006
33 Phaius tankervilleae Ridge to Konahuanui Preserved_Specimen Christophersen, E. 1738 Oahu BISH 1931-04-23
34 Phaius tankervilleae West Maui, Kapunakea. Preserved_Specimen Hughes, G.D. 607 Maui BISH 1993-04-13
35 Phaius tankervilleae Tantalus; ridge near Hawaiian telephone Co Preserved_Specimen Pyle, L. Oahu BISH 1985-01-19
36 Phaius tankervilleae Kamahuna Ridge, west of Kealia Epiphytic on treeferns. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 27352 Kauai BISH 1961-03-13
37 Phaius tankervilleae Tantalus; ridge near Hawaiian telephone Co Preserved_Specimen Pyle, L. Oahu BISH 1985-01-19
38 Phaius tankervilleae Kona-Hilo Hwy., ca. 0.8 miles from Park entrance towards Kona, just past sulfer banks Open Metrosideros-Sadleria-Dicranopteris forest community on ash-covered pahoehoe lava. Preserved_Specimen Herb ca. 2 ft. tall. Newell, C.L. 602 Hawaii BISH 1966-08-27
39 Phaius tankervilleae junction of Crater Rim & Job Corps Roads Forest. Preserved_Specimen Sohmer, S.H. 6369 Hawaii BISH 1970-01-08
40 Phaius tankervilleae West slope of Onioe, near Koloa Naturalized on grassy, shrubby slope. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 27764 Kauai BISH 1961-03-16
41 Phaius tankervilleae Hawaii Volcano National Park; near Kilauea Fern jungle. Preserved_Specimen Herb 2' tall; infrequent. Fagerlund, G.O. 860 Hawaii BISH 1943-12-08
42 Phaius tankervilleae Hualalai; W slope, Honokahua Frank Greenwell's paddocks. Preserved_Specimen Kondo, Y. Hawaii BISH 1946-07-26
43 Phaius tankervilleae Kiolakaa - Keaa Homestead Addition, Kau Forest Reserve Common plant in dense shade of Eucalyptus plantings and disturbed Metrosideros forest. Preserved_Specimen Only 2 plants flowering. Others finished, bare stems or a few capsules. Plant 4' tall flowers petals white beneath, brown above. Davis, J. 326 Hawaii BISH 1980-08-13
44 Phaius tankervilleae Wailau Valley In shade. Preserved_Specimen Terrestrial. Oppenheimer, H.L. 80512 Molokai BISH 2005-08-18
45 Phaius tankervilleae Kau district. Keauhou Ranch. Near corral - Kekake jeep trail In open Metrosideros - native shrub habitat. Preserved_Specimen Sterile. Only one patch seen, 1' x 1', less than 1' tall. Davis, J. 242 Hawaii BISH 1980-03-05
46 Phaius tankervilleae East Maui, Makawao District, Kailua Stream, east tributary Uncommon along pipeline. Vegetaion: Metrosideros/Dicranopteris Lowland Wet Forest, with Cheirodendron, Ilex, Perrottetia, Freycinetia, Clermontia, Myrsine, Sadleria, Cibotium, Hedychium, Setaria, Rubus, Nephrolepis, Tibouchina, Clidemia, Paspalum, Juncus, Peperomia. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 30725 Maui BISH 2007-03-28
47 Phaius tankervilleae Kona-Hilo Hwy., ca. 0.8 miles from Park entrance towards Kona, just past sulfer banks Open Metrosideros-Sadleria-Dicranopteris forest community on ash-covered pahoehoe lava. Preserved_Specimen Herb ca. 2 ft. tall. Newell, C.L. 600 Hawaii BISH 1966-08-27
48 Phaius tankervilleae Near Hoopuloa, along main road Naturalized & common in a`a lava forest. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 21819 Hawaii BISH 1952-02-01
49 Phaius tankervilleae Kalihi-Nuuanu Ridge Occasional, established on moist wooded ridge. Preserved_Specimen Flr w/faint sweet perfume; corolla chalky, white outside, lip white outside except braod band at marigin of pale brown shading to madder purple, within madder purple veined longitudinally towards the apical band; other perianth parts chocolate brown, tinged w/madder within. St.John, H. 20283 Oahu BISH 1942-03-22
50 Phaius tankervilleae Kau District, Keauhou Ranch, near corral - Kekake jeep trail In open Metrosideros - native shrub. Preserved_Specimen Sterile. Less than 1' tall. Davis, J. 242 Hawaii BISH 1980-03-05
51 Phaius tankervilleae W Maui, along eastern flank of Honolua Peak In wet forest. Preserved_Specimen Ground orchid, noted to be locally common in this area. Oppenheimer, H.L. 300 Maui BISH 1998-03-24
52 Phaius tankervilleae Along Saddle Road abouve Waikii HUMAN_OBSERVATION 1441951053 Hawaii HAPI 12/22/1997
53 Phaius tankervilleae ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District Preserved_Specimen The plant resembles those of Spathoglottis plicata, but the white flowers make it easy to separate the two plants when they are in flower. Yoshida, L. Hawaii BISH 1979-02-13
54 Phaius tankervilleae Kaneohe; adventitious in garden at 45-090 Namoku St., Cottage N Preserved_Specimen Lvs plicate, emerging from bulb; flr nodding; sepals & petals bronze-tan color, white on reverse side, lip purple-bronze. Medler, J. Oahu BISH 1993-02-23
55 Phaius tankervilleae Hawaii Volcano National Park Abandoned trail in native rain forest. Preserved_Specimen Flr white outside, maroon streaks & maroon lip inside. Gagné, W.C. 661 Hawaii BISH 1972-07-20
56 Phaius tankervilleae SW flank of Mauna Loa; Manuka Ahu Closed Metrosideros forest on a`a substrate w/Cibotium, Nephrolepis, Metrosideros, Psychotria, Styphelia & Vaccinium. Preserved_Specimen Higashino, P.K. 5829 Hawaii BISH 1977-06-19
57 Phaius tankervilleae Mount Tantalus, near Puu Ohia Trail. On same Metrosideros tremuloides as 781988/NW-2022-017. Crest of ridge/hilltop by 2 benches looking out to Manoa Falls (across the valley). . Trees ~3 - 5 m tall, windswept and covered in Bryophytes and lichens. Low canopy hilltop forest with Citharexylum, Cordyline fruticosa, Ardesia crenata, Ardesia eliptica, Dicranopteris linearis, Gingers, epiphytic Peperomia, Miconia crenata (Clidemia hirta), and Elaphoglossum crassifolium. Preserved_Specimen Orchid with pleated fan shaped leaf. Whitish flowers, sepals and petals adaxial sides reddish-orange, white abaxially, labellum semi-tube-like white abaxially and fuchsia-purple inside. Walvoord, N. 2023012 Oahu BISH 2023-04-02
58 Phaius tankervilleae W Maui, along eastern flank of Honolua Peak In wet forest. Preserved_Specimen Ground orchid, noted to be locally common in this area. Oppenheimer, H.L. 300 Maui BISH 1998-03-24
59 Phaius tankervilleae Makaopuhi Crater Preserved_Specimen Stone, B.C. 2990 Hawaii BISH 1959-06-26
60 Phaius tankervilleae South Kona Forest Reserve, ca. 4.5 miles from Milolii on Rt. 11, mauka side of road Preserved_Specimen Sohmer, S.H. 6289 Hawaii BISH 1970-01-07
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