Proiphys.
Family Amaryllidaceae s.l.
There are 3 species in the Proiphys genus – P. alba, P. amboinensis and P. cunninghamii.
Some sources recognise a fourth species – The Plant List has Proiphys infundibularis.
P. cunninghamii only occurs in Australia.
P. alba and P. amboinensis occur in Queensland, some other states and S. E. Asia.
Perennial, deciduous plants growing from bulbs.
The large, broad leaves, on long stalks, are dark green and glossy.
The curved parallel veins are deeply impressed.
Leafless inflorescence stalks (scapes) hold flowers in an umbel-like arrangement.
Flowers are on stalks and have 2 to 4 bracts.
There are 6 white tepals in 2 whorls.
The bases form a tube from which the lobes flare out.
There are 6 stamens with the bases connected by a white corona.
The ovaries are inferior with 1 – 3 locules.
The fruit can germinate on the plant forming small bulbils which rupture the fruit as they grow.
Proiphys amboinensis. The Cardwell Lily is featured separately.
Proiphys cunninghamii.
The Brisbane Lily or Moreton Bay Lily.
A smaller plant than the Cardwell lily.
Leaves, on long stalks have shiny, deeply veined leaf blades.
They are ovate with a round or heart-shaped base.
Blades are up to 25 cm long by 13 cm wide.
Leafless inflorescence stalks to 80 cm long carry up to 12 flowers at the top.
Individual flowers have stalks up to 3.5 cm long and there are bracts to 5 cm long.
The 6 white tepals have bases fused into a tube up to 1.2 cm long.
The tepal lobes are slightly longer than the tube.
The bases of the 6 stamens are joined by a white corona up to 1.5 cm long.
Proiphys alba.
This species has the smallest leaves of the three.
They are light green and up to 15 cm long.
J.F.
