144 Species in Genus Paphiopedilum

My Fascination with Paphiopedilum: The Lady Slipper Orchids

As an orchid enthusiast, I’ve always been drawn to the unique beauty and diversity of the Paphiopedilum genus. These orchids, commonly known as Lady Slipper orchids, are truly captivating with their pouch-like labellum that resembles a delicate slipper. This distinctive feature, along with their often vibrant colors and intricate patterns, makes them a favorite among orchid collectors and admirers alike.

A Closer Look at the Lady Slipper

What truly sets Paphiopedilum apart from other orchids is their terrestrial nature. Unlike many orchids that grow on trees, these fascinating plants are typically found on the forest floor, nestled amongst the rich humus and leaf litter. This preference for terrestrial habitats adds another layer of intrigue to their already fascinating character.

Their unique morphology extends beyond the prominent pouch. The sepals and petals also exhibit a wide array of shapes and colors, contributing to the incredible diversity within the genus. Some species boast bold stripes, while others display intricate spots or delicate veining. The leaves, too, can be quite striking, ranging from solid green to mottled patterns.

Exploring the Diversity of Paphiopedilum

The genus Paphiopedilum is home to a vast array of species, each with its own unique charm:

1. Paphiopedilum acmodontum M.W.Wood
2. Paphiopedilum adductum Asher
3. Paphiopedilum agusii Cavestro
4. Paphiopedilum × ailaoshanense B.Liu & S.P.Chen
5. Paphiopedilum appletonianum (Gower) Rolfe
6. Paphiopedilum areeanum O.Gruss
7. Paphiopedilum argus (Rchb.f.) Stein
8. Paphiopedilum armeniacum S.C.Chen & F.Y.Liu
9. Paphiopedilum × aspersum Aver.
10. Paphiopedilum ayubianum (O.Gruss & Roeth) Koop.
11. Paphiopedilum barbatum (Lindl.) Pfitzer
12. Paphiopedilum barbigerum Tang & F.T.Wang
13. Paphiopedilum bellatulum (Rchb.f.) Stein
14. Paphiopedilum braemii H.Mohr
15. Paphiopedilum bullenianum (Rchb.f.) Pfitzer
16. Paphiopedilum bungebelangi Metusala
17. Paphiopedilum × burbidgei (Rchb.f.) Pfitzer
18. Paphiopedilum callosum (Rchb.f.) Stein
19. Paphiopedilum canhii Aver. & O.Gruss
20. Paphiopedilum charlesworthii (Rolfe) Pfitzer
21. Paphiopedilum christensonianum (Perner & Koop.) Koop. & O.Gruss
22. Paphiopedilum ciliolare (Rchb.f.) Stein
23. Paphiopedilum coccineum Perner & R.Herrm.
24. Paphiopedilum concolor (Lindl. ex Bateman) Pfitzer
25. Paphiopedilum cornuatum Z.J.Liu, O.Gruss & L.J.Chen
26. Paphiopedilum × cribbii Aver.
27. Paphiopedilum × crossianum (Rchb.f.) Stein
28. Paphiopedilum × dalatense Aver.
29. Paphiopedilum dayanum (Robert Stone ex J.Dix) Stein
30. Paphiopedilum delenatii Guillaumin
31. Paphiopedilum × deleonii Cabactulan, Cootes, Pimentel & Dionisio
32. Paphiopedilum dianthum Tang & F.T.Wang
33. Paphiopedilum × dixlerianum Braem & Chiron
34. Paphiopedilum dodyanum Cavestro
35. Paphiopedilum druryi (Bedd.) Stein
36. Paphiopedilum emersonii Koop. & P.J.Cribb
37. Paphiopedilum × expansum J.T.Atwood
38. Paphiopedilum exul (Ridl.) Rolfe
39. Paphiopedilum fairrieanum (Lindl.) Stein
40. Paphiopedilum × fanaticum Koop. & N.Haseg.
41. Paphiopedilum fowliei Birk
42. Paphiopedilum × frankeanum Rolfe
43. Paphiopedilum gigantifolium Braem, M.L.Baker & C.O.Baker
44. Paphiopedilum glanduliferum (Blume) Stein
45. Paphiopedilum × glanzii O.Gruss & Perner
46. Paphiopedilum glaucophyllum J.J.Sm.
47. Paphiopedilum godefroyae (God.-Leb.) Stein
48. Paphiopedilum gratrixianum Rolfe
49. Paphiopedilum × grussianum H.S.Hua
50. Paphiopedilum hangianum Perner & O.Gruss
51. Paphiopedilum haynaldianum (Rchb.f.) Stein
52. Paphiopedilum helenae Aver.
53. Paphiopedilum hennisianum (M.W.Wood) Fowlie
54. Paphiopedilum henryanum Braem
55. Paphiopedilum herrmannii F.Fuchs & H.Reisinger
56. Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum (Lindl. ex Hook.) Stein
57. Paphiopedilum hookerae (Rchb.f.) Stein
58. Paphiopedilum × huangrongshuanum Petchl. & O.Gruss
59. Paphiopedilum inamorii P.J.Cribb & A.Lamb
60. Paphiopedilum insigne (Wall. ex Lindl.) Pfitzer
61. Paphiopedilum intaniae Cavestro
62. Paphiopedilum jackii H.S.Hua
63. Paphiopedilum javanicum (Reinw. ex Lindl.) Pfitzer
64. Paphiopedilum × kimballianum (Rchb.f.) Rolfe
65. Paphiopedilum kolopakingii Fowlie
66. Paphiopedilum lawrenceanum (Rchb.f.) Pfitzer
67. Paphiopedilum × leeanum O.Gruss
68. Paphiopedilum leucochilum (Rolfe) Fowlie
69. Paphiopedilum liemianum (Fowlie) K.Karas. & K.Saito
70. Paphiopedilum × littleanum (Anon.) Rolfe
71. Paphiopedilum lowii (Lindl.) Stein
72. Paphiopedilum lunatum Metusala
73. Paphiopedilum × lushuiense Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen
74. Paphiopedilum malipoense S.C.Chen & Z.H.Tsi
75. Paphiopedilum mastersianum (Rchb.f.) Stein
76. Paphiopedilum × mattesii Pittenauer ex Roeth & O.Gruss
77. Paphiopedilum micranthum Tang & F.T.Wang
78. Paphiopedilum × mittrachianum O.Gruss, Schettler & Aver.
79. Paphiopedilum moquetteanum (J.J.Sm.) Fowlie
80. Paphiopedilum myanmaricum Koop., Iamwir. & S.Laohap.
81. Paphiopedilum nataschae Braem
82. Paphiopedilum × nitens (Rchb.f.) Stein
83. Paphiopedilum niveum (Rchb.f.) Stein
84. Paphiopedilum notatisepalum Z.J.Liu, Meina Wang & S.R.Lan
85. Paphiopedilum ooii Koop.
86. Paphiopedilum papilio-laoticus Schuit., Luang Aphay & Iio
87. Paphiopedilum papuanum (Ridl.) L.O.Williams
88. Paphiopedilum parishii (Rchb.f.) Stein
89. Paphiopedilum parnatanum Cavestro
90. Paphiopedilum × petchleungianum O.Gruss
91. Paphiopedilum philippinense (Rchb.f.) Stein
92. Paphiopedilum platyphyllum T.Yukawa
93. Paphiopedilum × polystigmaticum (Rchb.f.) Stein
94. Paphiopedilum × powellii Christenson
95. Paphiopedilum × pradhanii Pradhan
96. Paphiopedilum primulinum M.W.Wood & P.Taylor
97. Paphiopedilum purpuratum (Lindl.) Stein
98. Paphiopedilum qingyongii Z.J.Liu & L.J.Chen
99. Paphiopedilum randsii Fowlie
100. Paphiopedilum richardianum Asher & Beaman
101. Paphiopedilum robinsonianum Cavestro
102. Paphiopedilum rohmanii Cavestro & O.Gruss
103. Paphiopedilum rothschildianum (Rchb.f.) Stein
104. Paphiopedilum rungsuriyanum O.Gruss, Rungruang, Chaisur. & Dionisio
105. Paphiopedilum sallieri (God.-Leb.) Stein
106. Paphiopedilum sanderianum (Rchb.f.) Stein
107. Paphiopedilum sangii Braem
108. Paphiopedilum × sanjiangianum Petchl. & O.Gruss
109. Paphiopedilum × schlechterianum O.Gruss
110. Paphiopedilum schoseri Braem & H.Mohr
111. Paphiopedilum × shipwayae Rolfe
112. Paphiopedilum × siamense (Rolfe) Rolfe
113. Paphiopedilum × sinovillosum Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen
114. Paphiopedilum spicerianum (Rchb.f.) Pfitzer
115. Paphiopedilum stenolomum Z.J.Liu, O.Gruss & L.J.Chen
116. Paphiopedilum stonei (Hook.) Stein
117. Paphiopedilum sugiyamanum Cavestro
118. Paphiopedilum sukhakulii Schoser & Senghas
119. Paphiopedilum supardii Braem & Löb
120. Paphiopedilum superbiens (Rchb.f.) Stein
121. Paphiopedilum × tamphianum Aver. & O.Gruss
122. Paphiopedilum thaianum Iamwir.
123. Paphiopedilum tigrinum Koop. & N.Haseg.
124. Paphiopedilum tonsum (Rchb.f.) Stein
125. Paphiopedilum tranlienianum O.Gruss & Perner
126. Paphiopedilum trungkienii (Aver., O.Gruss, C.X.Canh & N.H.Tuan) Aver., O.Gruss & Koop.
127. Paphiopedilum × undulatum Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen
128. Paphiopedilum urbanianum Fowlie
129. Paphiopedilum vejvarutianum O.Gruss & Roellke
130. Paphiopedilum venustum (Wall. ex Sims) Pfitzer
131. Paphiopedilum victoria-mariae (Sander ex Rolfe) Rolfe
132. Paphiopedilum victoria-regina (Sander) M.W.Wood
133. Paphiopedilum × vietenryanum O.Gruss & Petchl.
134. Paphiopedilum vietnamense O.Gruss & Perner
135. Paphiopedilum villosum (Lindl.) Stein
136. Paphiopedilum violascens Schltr.
137. Paphiopedilum wardii Summerh.
138. Paphiopedilum wenshanense Z.J.Liu & J.Yong Zhang
139. Paphiopedilum wentworthianum Schoser & Fowlie
140. Paphiopedilum wilhelminae L.O.Williams
141. Paphiopedilum × wuliangshanicum Z.J.Liu, O.Gruss & L.J.Chen
142. Paphiopedilum xichouense Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen
143. Paphiopedilum × yingjiangense Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen
144. Paphiopedilum zulhermanianum Cavestro

This is just a glimpse into the remarkable diversity within the genus. With over 140 recognized species and countless hybrids, the world of Paphiopedilum offers endless opportunities for exploration and discovery.

The Allure of Paphiopedilum

For me, the appeal of Paphiopedilum lies not only in their aesthetic beauty but also in their resilience and adaptability. These orchids have evolved to thrive in a variety of habitats, from humid rainforests to cool mountain slopes. This hardiness, coupled with their unique beauty, makes them a rewarding addition to any orchid collection.

Whether you’re a seasoned orchid grower or just beginning your journey into the world of orchids, Paphiopedilum offers a captivating experience. Their unique morphology, diverse array of colors and patterns, and adaptability make them a truly fascinating genus to explore.

I encourage anyone with an interest in orchids to delve into the world of Paphiopedilum. You’ll be amazed by the sheer beauty and diversity these orchids have to offer.