Paphiopedilum wenshanense Z.J.Liu & J.Yong Zhang 2000 SUBGENUS Brachypetalum Haller 1897

Photo by Patricia Harding

Common Name The Wenshan Paphiopedilum [Area in Yunnan China] - In China Wen Shan Dou Lan

Flower Size 2 to 2.8" [5 to 7 cm]

Found in Yunnan province of China on densely shrubby and grassy slopes and is characterized by having 4 to 5, distichous, abaxially purple, adaxially tessellated with dark and pale green and somewhat mottled into a dull whitish, subelliptic, obtuse-rounded and unequally bilobed apically leaves that blooms in the spring on a suberect, pubescent, 1 to 1.4" [2.5 to 3.5 cm] long, green spotted purple-brown, 1 to 3 flowered inflorescence with ovate-elliptic, conduplicate, minutely ciliate, shorter than the ovary floral bracts.

CAUTION This orchid is very similar to the man-made hybrid Paph conco-bellatulum. So it may be a naturally occuring hybrid. It is also cited as a synonym of Paphiopedilum bellatulum.

Synonyms Paphiopedilum wenshanense f. album O.Gruss & Petchl. 2002

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; AOS Bulletin Vol 73 No 4 2004; Australian Orchid Review Vol 71 No 6 2006/7 photo; Flora of China Vol 25 Zhengyi, Raven & Deyuan 2009; Flora of China Vol 25 Illustrations Zhengyi, Raven & Deyuan 2010 drawing fide; The Wild Orchids in Yunnan Xu Xiang Ye & Liu 2010 photos fide; Orchid Digest Vol 79 #2 2015 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 86 #4 2017 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 88 #5 2019 photo fide;

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