Paphiopedilum Colbert orchid with brown and pink flower.
Paphiopedilum is a genus in the orchid family (Orchidaceae) of approximately 77 species native to South China, India, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. The genus has been given its own subtribe, the Paphiopedilinae. The genus is abbreviated Paph. The genus name Paphiopedilum is derived from the Greek Paphos, a city on the island of Cyprus, and pedilon, slipper. Most species in this genus were previously considered part of the genus Cypripedium, but Paphiopedilum was accepted as the conserved (valid in use) name in 1959. Paphiopedilum (sometimes colloquially referred to as "Paphs") are considered highly collectible by growers due to the curious and unusual form of their flowers. Most naturally occur among humus layers as terrestrials on the forest floor, while a few are true epiphytes and some are lithophytes. Along with Phragmipedium, Cypripedium, Mexipedium, and Selenipedium, the genus is a member of the subfamily Cypripedioideae, commonly referred to as the Lady’s or Venus’ Slipper Orchids, so named from the unusual shape of the pouch (labellum) of the flower, which was said to resemble a lady’s slipper. The pouch functions by trapping insects so that they are forced to climb up past the staminode, behind which they collect or deposit pollinia. These sympodial orchids lack pseudobulbs. Instead they grow robust shoots, each with several leaves. These can be short and rounded or long and narrow, and typically have a mottled pattern. When older shoots die, newer ones take over. Each new shoot only blooms once when it is fully grown, producing a raceme between the fleshy, succulent leaves. The roots are thick and fleshy. Potted plants form a tight lump of roots that, when untangled, can be up to l m long. The Chinese orchid Paphiopedilum armeniacum, discovered in 1979 and described in 1982, amazed growers of orchids by the extraordinary beauty of its golden flowers.
Size: 3504px × 5256px
Location: Ireland
Photo credit: © Shane Phelan / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: brown, colbert, contrast, curved, depth, dof, field, flower, garden, gardens, green, high, indoor, leaf, nature, orchid, paphiopedilum, petal, pink, red, shadow, shallow, sunlight, tropical, veins
