Nun Orchid's name

[lumina9]

I received this orchid as a gift yesterday...said its a nun orchid...but I can't find more information... someone know the real name?

[eeyore]

I think that is an iris rather than an orchid. I believe it is a Walking Iris (Neomarica northiana)... Picture of Nun Orchid (Phaius tancarvilleae) at this link.

Hope that helps!

[ksriramkumar]

Yes it is a Walking Iris not an orchid.

[raybark]

Correct - Neomarica gracilis or northiana - it's really hard to tell them apart. They are native to sandy river banks Mexico down throughBrazil.

Once the flower drops (very quickly, I'm afraid), a new plant will grow from that point, and having developed enough mass, will bow over and root, and the process will repeat until it takes over a large area, hence the "walking" iris. Some also call it the Apostle Plant, as it supposedly must have 12 leaves for it to bloom.

[lumina9]

Thanks so much ....

[eeyore]

Ray, thanks for the informative post - was wondering why they had the "walking" prefix!