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{{Inc|
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Phaius (Greek, dark; referring to the color of the flowers). Often
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spelled Phajus. Orchidaceae. Very large orchids with ample foliage
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and all clustered stems terminating in racemes of showy flowers.
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Sepals and petals similar, spreading or half-spreading; labellum
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large, with the lateral lobes inclosing the column, usually gibbous
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or spurred behind; column slender; pollinia 8. Distinguished from
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Calanthe by the free labellum; from Thunia by the leafless bracted
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scape which does not terminate the leafy axis.—About 20 species,
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natives of Trop. Asia, Afr., Austral., China, Japan, and the South
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Sea Isls.
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The genus Phaius includes both epiphytic and terrestrial
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representatives. The noteworthy epiphytic types are native of
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Madagascar, including P. tuberculosus, P. simulans, and P. Humblotii.
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However they are not frequently represented in orchid collections.
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They enjoy a warm moist atmosphere as for vanda. The potting medium
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should include chopped peat and moss in equal proportion. When
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potting, small rafts with the potting medium packed around or
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sections of fern stems, the latter being preferable, should be placed
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in the center of the pot or basket. The terrestrial species,
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especially P. grandifolius, are well known, being one of the first
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orchids put under cultivation. It dates as far back as 1778, when it
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was imported from China. Various species are native to low-lying
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swampy places of tropical Asia and Australia, and have also become
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naturalized in the West Indies. They are of easy culture and will
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grow in an ordinary warmhouse associated with palms. They delight in
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moisture throughout the year, in a growing medium of sandy fibrous
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sod-soil, with plenty of organic fertilizer in a dried state mixed
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with the soil and also in liquid form when in full growth. The main
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factor to bear in mind is perfect drainage. Plants are increased
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readily by the division of the dormant pseudobulbs. Upward of thirty
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garden hybrids are under cultivation at the present time, including
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some interesting bigeneric forms. (G. H. Pring.)
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{{Taxobox
{{Taxobox
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| color = lightgreen