Paphiopedilum glaucophyllum

Paphiopedilum glaucophyllum
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Cypripedioideae
Genus:	Paphiopedilum
Species:	P. glaucophyllum
Binomial name
Paphiopedilum glaucophyllum J.J.Sm.
Synonyms
Cypripedium glaucophyllum (J.J.Sm.) Mast. Cordula glaucophylla (J.J.Sm.) Rolfe Paphiopedilum victoria-regina ssp. glaucophyllum (J.J.Sm.) M.W.Wood

Paphiopedilum glaucophyllum, common name The Shiney Green Leaf Paphiopedilum or Tropical Ladys-Slipper, is a species of flowering plants in the genus Paphiopedilum belonging to the Orchidaceae family.

Description

Paphiopedilum glaucophyllum is a terrestrial orchid 30–45 centimetres (12–18 in) tall. The leaves are waxy coated, clear blue-green, oblong-elliptic and narrow, about 30 centimetres (12 in) long. The flowers are about 8–11 centimetres (3.1–4.3 in) wide. The upper sepal is green and purple striped, the lateral petals are twisted, purple mottled and hairy, the labellum is white at the base, with a progressively increasing pink-purple dotting. The labellum reaches 4.5 centimetres (1.8 in) and its shape resembles a bag or women's shoes (hence the common name of Tropical Ladys-Slipper). This species blooms repeatedly with two flowers, producing a new one once the old one is fallen. The flowering period is very long, extending from the Spring till the Winter. This species is very similar to Paphiopedilum liemianum, but the last one has intense green leaves, while in the first one they are clearer.

Distribution

This species is endemic to Southeast Asia (Indonesia, East and Southwest Java (Mount Semeru, Lumajang) and in Central Sumatra).

Habitat

Paphiopedilum glaucophyllum has its natural habitat in rainy volcanic mountain slopes and moist limestone cliffs. It prefers sun to partial shade and calcareous soils with mosses, at an altitude of 200–700 metres (660–2,300 ft) above sea level.

Gallery

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  Illustration of Paphiopedilum glaucophyllum from "Curtis's Botanical Magazine" vol. 132 (Ser. 4 no. 2) tab. 8084, 1906

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  Flowers of Paphiopedilum glaucophyllum

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  Flower of Paphiopedilum glaucophyllum

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  Flower of Paphiopedilum glaucophyllum

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  Flowers of Paphiopedilum glaucophyllum var. moquetteanum

References

• Braem, G. J., Charles O. Baker, Margaret L. Baker. (1998) The Genus Paphiopedilum: Natural History and Cultivation, Vol. 1. Kissimmee, Florida: Botanical Publishers, Inc..
• Harold Koopowitz (2000) Revised Checklist of the Genus Paphiopedilum, A. 64, Nr. 4.
• Cribb, Phillip (1999) The Genus Paphiopedilum: A Kew Magazine Monograph 2nd Edition, Timber Press Inc.
• USDA GRIN

External links

• Slipper Orchids
• Orchids Wikia
• Orchids