Cribb uses the name P.lowii var richardianum, and says "P lowii is the most widespread of the multi-flowered varieties of Paph, found throughout the Malay peninsular, Sumatra, Java, Borneo and the Celebes ( Sulawesi)."
This explains some considerable variation, and quite a large number of supposed varieties under different names. P.richardianum is one.
Per Cribb again, it differs in the deep vee notch in the front of the lip - in one of the pics I have put a piece of blue plastic inside the lip in order to show up the notch which otherwise is not easily seen. I would not call this a deep notch, but there certainly is a notch, whereas in my other P.lowiis, there is none to be seen ( from memory). The flowers are also a bit smaller - although I have to say my other lowiis are the same size as this one , whereas oher lowiis I see on show benches are a bit bigger. P. richardianum as shown in Cribbs masterwork book on paphs has a much larger pouch than this , whereas he shows (pure) lowii with a pouch otherwise like the one here - but all of this is typical of the variation you get in a species which is wide-spread.
P.lowii in all its forms is different from the other multi-flowered paphs in being epiphytic - the others are very much terrestrial, although both might be found growing lithophyticially; this may give a clue as to culture, if only I could work out what it means !
Not a happy plant this one ; it has suffered the dread slow brown rot at the base of leaves , ( all taken off of course), the only question is whether it will produce new growths before it succumbs . I shall take the spike off as soon as the other two buds open, to reduce the drain on the plant and hope to save it. After all, it has taken about 8 years to get the plant this far from the flask....






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