Paphiopedilum wilhelminiae

[Mahon]

Thought I might put in my two cents for this species, and add to Jmoney's wonderful plant...

This species is native to Irian Jaya and Papua New Guinea at 5,000m - 6,000m elevation. It's definitely part of a "complex" of species in Section Coryopedilum, but the distribution and some morphological characteristics can distinguish the species of this section apart.

It is hard to say that Paph. gardineri is a nomenclatural synonym of Paph. wilhelminiae, because the lack of material and evidence to support Paph. gardineri as an acceptable species.

(Couldn't get a better picture of flowers; first one was broken off after the flowers opened up more )


-PM

[smartie2000]

Nice blooms! Yours appears darker than Jmoney's. Thanks for the additional info, now i've gotta get one of these too so tempting

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Ok, between you and Jason, Pat, I am going to break the bank. This is one beautiful paph! Thanks for the information & photo & enabling!

Cheers,
BD

[Piper]

Sorry you broke a flower, Pat - it's lovely!

What's the leafspan on yours?

McJulie

[Jmoney]

nice one! while one's definition of gardineri seems to change, a lot of them out there labelled as such are the same species as what we call wilhelminiae.

[Mahon]

Thanks all!

This really is a great species to grow; it's not as difficult or slow growing as other Coryopedilum species... in person, the pouch has that 'sunburst' finish on a Gibson Les Paul...

As for leafspan, mine has about 14 inches, but most others I have seen have had around 8 inches while blooming.

-Pat