Cypripedioideae is a subfamily of orchids commonly known as lady's slipper orchids, lady slipper orchids or slipper orchids. Cypripedioideae includes the genera Cypripedium, Mexipedium, Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium and Selenipedium. They are characterised by the slipper-shaped pouches of the flowers – the pouch traps insects so they are forced to climb up past the staminode, behind which they collect or deposit pollinia, thus fertilizing the flower. There are approximately 165 species in the subfamily.
Paphiopedilum, often called the Venus slipper, is a genus of the lady slipper orchid subfamily Cypripedioideae of the flowering plant family Orchidaceae. The genus comprises some 80 accepted taxa including several natural hybrids. The genus is native to Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, southern China, New Guinea and the Solomon and Bismarck Islands. The type species of this genus is Paphiopedilum insigne.
× Phragmipaphium is an intergeneric hybrid of plants in the family Orchidaceae, between the genera Phragmipedium and Paphiopedilum. This hybrid is abbreviated Phrphm by orchid growers and hobbyists. A number of plants have been presented as successful hybrids.
Paphiopedilum malipoense is a species of orchid commonly known as the jade slipper orchid. This hemicryptophyte plant starts blooming in the spring time and has one flower per inflorescence. The plant grows in intermediate to cool conditions. Its flowers have a raspberry fragrance.
Paphiopedilum armeniacum is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It is known commonly as the apricot orange paphiopedilum and golden slipper orchid. It is endemic to China, where it occurs only in Yunnan. It is also cultivated and has won prestigious awards at flower shows.
Paphiopedilum emersonii, described in 1982, is a species of orchid named after American orchid enthusiast Emerson 'Doc' Charles. The plant blooms from late spring to early summer with one to two flowers per an infloresensce. The plant size is small when compared to other Paphiopedilums. Flowers are fragrant.
Paphiopedilum micranthum, described in 1951, is commonly known as the silver slipper orchid or hard-leaved pocket orchid. It blooms during late winter to early summer with one flower per inflorescence. As opposed to its close sibling Paph. malipoense, the flowers of Paph. micranthum have no fragrance.
Paphiopedilum delenatii, described in 1924, is named after Delanat, a French orchid enthusiast of the 1900s. It was first discovered in 1913 when it was brought to France by returning soldiers, and was believed to be extinct and was not rediscovered in the wild until 1993. In the wild, blooming is in December, but in cultivation the plants generally bloom later, from January to March. The flowers are fragrant.
Paphiopedilum rothschildianum, it is commonly known as the Gold of Kinabalu orchid or Rothschild's slipper orchid, is a large sized clear-leafed species of orchid. It blooms with a tall inflorescence with up to six, large flowers. It is unique in the Corypetalum group by holding its petals almost horizontally, giving the flower a very distinctive appearance. The peak flowering period is from April to May.
Paphiopedilum glaucophyllum, common name shiny green leaf paphiopedilum or tropical lady's-slipper, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Paphiopedilum of the family Orchidaceae.
Paphiopedilum fowliei is a species of plant in the family Orchidaceae. It is endemic to Palawan in the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Paphiopedilum concolor is a small terrestrial orchid first described in 1865 as Cypripedium concolor. It has dark green and grey-green mottled leaves, up to 150 by 40 mm. Paphiopedilum concolor is native to southern China, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand and Southern and Central Vietnam, usually in Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park in Quảng Bình Province. They are generally found in lowlands, below 300 m (1,000 ft) elevation, but have been found above 1,000 m (3,300 ft).
Paphiopedilum argus is a species of orchid endemic to Luzon Island of the Philippines. The name is a reference to the Greek god Argus, who had one hundred eyes, like the spots on the petals. The flower size goes up to 4" (10 cm). It is commonly found on limestone in altitudes 600 to 2000 feet high.
Paphiopedilum druryi is a species of orchid endemic to the Agastyamalai Hills of southern India. It is the only southern Indian orchid species in the genus. Rediscovered in 1972 after its original description in 1870, wild populations were decimated by commercial collectors and it is one of the few plants that are listed as threatened by the Indian government and included in CITES and the IUCN Redlist.
Paphiopedilum exul is a species of orchid endemic to peninsular Thailand. This orchid is found growing in humus-filled crevices, and is not difficult to grow or flower. Its greenish yellow flowers appear from February to May.
Paphiopedilum godefroyae is a species of orchid endemic to peninsular Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. This species is found just above sea level on limestone cliffs. The flowers are around 9 cm across, creamy white to light green. They flower from December to July.
Paphiopedilum insigne is an Asian species of slipper orchid and the type species of the genus Paphiopedilum. Its name is derived from the Latin insigne, meaning 'badge of honor' due to the magnificent flower. In the 19th century it was very popular among European and American orchid growers, causing it to become very rare in the wild due to over collecting. There are many varieties of it and hybrids with it.
Paphiopedilum niveum is a species of orchid occurring from peninsular Thailand to peninsular Malaysia. It is best known on Pulau Langkawi, a group of islands off the coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Over-collecting from these islands has made the species quite scarce. This orchid grows in cracks on limestone cliffs just above sea level. It is small, only 10 cm across, with flowers that are 5–6 cm across. It flowers from December to August, peaking in April and May. This orchid, and the Thai variety, Paph. niveum var. Ang Thong, have been hybridised extensively, and are easy to grow.
Paphiopedilum sanderianum is a rare species of orchid endemic to northwestern Borneo. First discovered in 1885 by F. Sander's collector, J. Foerstermann, the orchid became renowned for the remarkable length of its petals, which can measure over 1 meter long. Although P. sanderianum has been used as a parent in a number of crosses, none of the resulting hybrids have so far matched the extraordinary lengths of this species' petals. However, soon after the turn of the 20th century, this rare orchid was lost to cultivation and thought to be extinct in the wild, until its rediscovery in 1978 by Ivan Nielson. The wild population of Paphiopedilum sanderianum grows protected in Gunung Mulu National Park.
Charles Storer was an American painter, best known for his finely detailed drawings of Orchideae and regarded as one of the most prominent floral painters of New England. Other than flowers, he was also renowned for landscapes and still-life paintings.
