The genus 
Proiphys 
cunninghamii 
2 Proiphys 
amboinensis 
3 Proiphys alba Distribution 
The genus Proiphys belongs to the family 
Amaryllidaceae (the daffodil family) and 
comprises three species, P. alba, P. 
amboinensis and P. cunninghamii. The 
genus has been known as Eurycies for 
many years. These plants occur in light 
shaded areas of the rainforest or in open 
forest bordering rainforest regions, 
extending beyond Australia to South-East 
Asia. 
Although these bulbous plants are not 
widely used in horticulture, the large, 
deeply-veined leaves which are produced 
on long petioles make them desirable 
garden subjects. The fragrant white 
flowers are produced in umbel-like clus¬ 
ters on long stems. They open in succes¬ 
sion over a prolonged period and last well. 
The fruits that develop on the flower heads 
often germinate on the plant (new plants 
can be grown from these). They contain 
one to several fleshy seeds. Plants die 
back to an underground bulb during 
winter and should not be disturbed at this 
time. 
Proiphys are ideally suited to warm 
frost-free areas and can be grown in a 
rockery, beside a garden pool or in pots 
or tubs in cooler regions. They are hardy 
and easily grown although development 
to the flowering stage is slow. They do 
best in well composted soil in sheltered 
areas of the garden with little sun. 
P. amboinensis (syn. Eurycies amboi¬ 
nensis) is commonly called the Cardwell 
lily. It is one of the most attractive in the 
genus and occurs naturally in rainforest 
and coastal areas of northern Queensland 
from Mackay northwards and in the 
northern Kimberley area of Western 
Australia and South-East Asia. The large 
kidney-shaped leaves are glossy with 
symmetrically curved venation. They are 
200-300 mm long and 150-350 mm wide 
and carried on long stems 150-600 mm 
long. The white flowers which occur in 
summer have a yellow throat and are 
produced on stalks which can vary from 
150-900 mm long. 
P. alba (syn. Calostemma album, Eur¬ 
ycies scott-selickiana) occurs in large 
colonies in open forest in Queensland, the 
Northern Territory and the northern 
Kimberley region of Western Australia and 
Papua New Guinea. It is a hardy plant and 
very attractive when it is in flower between 
November and February. The light green 
leaves are the smallest of the genus and 
are 70-150 mm long by 5-7 mm wide, 
tapering at the base. The numerous white 
trumpet-shaped flowers are produced on 
erect stems 300-400 mm long. The fruit 
is globular and rather large. 
P. cunninghamii (syn. Eurycies cun¬ 
ninghamii) is commonly called the Bris¬ 
bane lily or Moreton Bay lily and is the 
only species confined to Australia. It has 
dark green heart-shaped leaves carried on 
long upright stems 100-250 mm long and 
80-130 mm wide. It occurs naturally on 
the north coast of New South Wales and 
in south-eastern Queensland in lightly 
shaded conditions in the rainforest or 
forest bordering the rainforest. 
To propagate sow the fruit in a 
sand/peat moss mixture 3:1 ratio to which 
a slow release fertiliser* has been added. 
The mixture should be about 100 mm 
deep to accommodate the root system. 
Allow plants to develop for several months 
before transplanting into a larger con¬ 
tainer or before planting out. Guard 
against snails in the early stages of 
development. 
* See Appendix 
346 
