Phaius francoisii

[Dorsetman]

I have been growing this for some five or more years, wondering how I could make it flower, or is it big enough anyway ; then suddenly up popped this spike. Flowers about 6 cm across, quite a remarkable lip !
Has not always been a Phaius - although the foliage looks like a smaller version of the well-known P.tankervilliae, the bulbs are much harder and more definite - maybe thats just a matter of sheathing leaves .Seen here in a five inch pot ; the spike is some 2 foot high.