Thunia alba - The White Thunia

 Thunia alba Rchb.f., Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 10: 764 (1852).

Thunia alba (Lindl.) Rchb.f.; Photos Nghiem Xuan Son

Vietnamese name: Hạc đính trắng, Lan bạch hạc

Chinise name: 笋兰 sun lan

Common Name: The White Thunia

Thailand Name: Chang Nga Diao – Phothuki

Latin Name: Thunia alba (Lindl.) Rchb.f.

Family: Orchidaceae

Synonym Name: Phaius albus Lindl.; Phaius bensoniae Benth.; Phaius marshalliae auct.; Phaius marshallianus (Rchb.f.) N.E.Br.; Phaius marshallianus var. purpurata (Rchb.f.) N.E.Br.; Phaius marshallianus var. triloba (Rchb.f.) N.E.Br.; Phaius niveus Hemsl.; Thunia alba var. alba; Thunia alba var. marschalliana (Rchb.f.) B.Grant; Thunia marshalliae B.S.Williams; Thunia marshalliana Rchb.f.; Thunia marshalliana var. ionophlebia Rchb.f.; Thunia marshalliana f. ionophlebia (Rchb.f.) M.Wolff & O.Gruss; Thunia marshalliana var. purpurata Rchb.f.; Thunia marshalliana var. triloba Rchb.f.; Thunia nivalis (Hemsl.) Rchb.f.

Description:

Orchid, 80-100 cm high, leaves 35 cm long, 5 cm wide. The flower cluster at the top is 20-30 cm long, The inflorescence has 5-10 flowers, flower size 7-9 cm, very fragrant, blooming in summer.

Distribution: Found in the western Himalayas, China, Assam India, eastern Himalayas, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, Andaman Islands, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. In VietNam, found in Sìn Hồ, Lai Châu, Hà Giang, Tuyên Quang, Lâm Đồng.

Ecological: Lithophytic on rocks or epiphytic on lower branches of trees in forests or in shaded and rocky places; 1200-2300 m

Uses: Treatment of pneumonia, tracheitis, gastritis, duodenum (whole tree). Also cure fractures, muscle aches, hurt falls.

Reference:

- theplantlist.org

- efloras.org

- orchidspecies.com

- ipni.org