Paphiopedilum Pfitzer
Morphol. Stud. ub. Orchideenbl. (1886) 11

Derivation of genus name: Greek Paphia (of Paphos; epithet of Venus); pedilon (shoe, slipper). The name refers to the slipper-shaped lip. Equally well known as 'slipper orchids'and 'Venus slipper orchids' E. Pfitzer described this genus in 1886 from the Greek island of Paphos with a temple dedicated to Venus.

Type species:

Characteristics of genus: Terrestrial or lithophytic, rarely epiphytic sympodial herbs mostly less than 50 cm tall with thick, horizontally spreading roots borne at the base of the plant. The conduplicate leaves can be oblong, elliptic or liguate, distichous, coriaceous, green or mottled with light green or purple markings, acute to obtuse, often 2- or 3-lobed at the apex. The flowers can be one to several per inflorescence, they are waxy in appearance. The dorsal sepal is large and erect and the lateral sepals are united to form a synsepalum. The spreading petals can be horizontal or pendant. The lip is formed to the prominent pouch. the column has two fertile anthers.

All species are quite variable in floral size and colour, leading to many species being redescribed for minor variants. Several natural hybrids are known to occur.

Number of sections and/or subsections in genus: The genus has been divided into three sub-genera.

Number of species in New Guinea: In Papua New Guinea four species are known, P. praestans, P. violascens, P. bougainvilleanum and P. wentworthianum. There may be more species.

Habitat: P. praestans is found in limestone country up to 1700 m growing in shallow soils in exposed or partly shaded areas. P. violascens has been found in limestone areas but seems to occur more frequently in ultrabasic, volcanic areas in well shaded niches along river banks and on the steep slopes of gullies and streams. P. bougainvilleanum has been reported from wet montane forest at the foot of large rocky exposed outcrops growing in leaf litter at altitudes from 1100 - 1850 m.

Conservation status: All species are very rare and endangered. The few sites at which they occur in Papua New Guinea appear to be known to unscrupulous orchid collectors.

Species shown here: Paphiopedilum violascens Schlechter
drawn by N.H.S. Howcroft from live specimen ex Saru River, Garaina, Morobe Province

Key to Illustration: A: plant habit; B: flower, side view; C: flower, front view; D. petal; E: dorsal sepal; F: synsepalum (fused lateral sepals) G: side lobe on inside of labellum; H: column, side view showing staminode, anther and stigma; I: staminode, front view, stigma visible below

P. praestans Pfitzer
drawn by N.H.S. Howcroft from live, cultivated specimen

View photos: Paphiopedilum species

See also: A Review of the Paphiopedilum praestans Complex by Dr. Leslie A. Garay