Paph or Phrag - Whats the diff?

[0rch1dman]

Can someone please illuminate me! I need to know the morphological differences between Paphs and Phrags. Thanks for your help!!!

[clintdawley]

This is not my area of specialization..but the most obvious difference is the long sepals that Phrags have that paphs do not.

[smartie2000]

Other than flower differences such as the shape of the pouches, etc:

Paphs are found in Asia and unilocualar capsules. Leaves tend to be more ovate, and thicker generally. This is a much broader group of plants with many colours, flower count and shapes to choose from when compared to phrags. Most will take calcium suplimentation.

Phrags are found in south america and have trilocular capsules. Leaves are laceolate, tips pointed (thicker and not as pointed in the cautadum species though). Generally these can be grown wetter, and send roots out much faster than a paph. Generally they are more sensitive too overly concentrated levels of salt and do not tolderate drying out as well. Also the pH of their medium should not be too high except for schlimii (and possibly kovachii)

Also there are differences in seed coat morphology and seed morphology too, which I don't remember. And paph chromosomes are larger, while phrag chromosomes are smaller (or something like that). Phrag seed capsules mature faster if I remember correctly and also they are easier to germinate. However later Phrag generations in hybrization were not as fertile until the use of Colchicine to create polypoid 4N plants

Paphs have longer lived flowers, sometimes expecting three months depending on the hybrid if the plant is properly cared, while phrags have many short lived blooms. Phrag blooms drop off looking perfectly fine, and a second bloom replaces it. The longevity of a spike in addition to a phrags fast growth is the reason mature specimens can have the potential to be in continuous bloom for years, especially longifolium hybrids. For paphs cochlosepalum are the ones who are expected to be in continuous bloom.

Cribbs book goes through the Cypripedioideae (all slippers) morphological differences in far better detail. I don't have it on me now, I had read The Genus Cypripedium months ago, but I am sure his monographs on the other two genera have morphological info.

[0rch1dman]

Thanks for your help. I will check out the website and the books.