!Paphiopedilum insigne[Lindley]Pfitz 1888 Subgen Paphiopedilum Sec. Paphiopedilum Karasawa & Saito 1982 Photo courtesy of Jay Pfahl

LATE and

Common Name The Splendid Paphiopedilum

Flower Size 4 to 5" [10 to 12.5 cm]

This is a small to medium sized, humus epiphytic species with 5 to 6 strap-shaped, clear green leaves that are minutely bilobed apically growing on limestone outcroppings at an elevation of 1000 to 2000 meters in India, Bangladesh and Nepal and is a cool growing plant that flowers in the late fall and winter on a terminal, erect, to 12" [30 cm] long, one and occasionally 2 flowered, dark green brown, purple-pubescent inflorescence that has an ovate, pubescent, glabrous floral bract and does not need a winter rest. This species has been used extensively in hybridizing.

Synonyms Cordula insignis Raf. 1838; Cypripedium chantini hort.; *Cypripedium insigne Wall ex Lindley 1822; Cypripedium maulei hort.; Paphiopedilum macfarlanei F.G.Mey. 1934

!Paphiopedilum insigne forma sanderae[Rchb.f] Braem 1999 Subgen Paphiopedilum Sec. Paphiopedilum Karasawa & Saito 1982 Photo courtesy of Vena Read

A yellow color form.

Synonyms Cypripedium insigne var. sanderae Rchb.f. 1888; Cypripedium insigne var. sanderianum Rolfe 1893; Paphiopedilum insigne f. sanderae (Rchb.f.) O.Gruss & Roeth 1999; Paphiopedilum insigne f. sanderianum (Rolfe) O.Gruss & Roeth 1999; *Paphiopedilum insigne var sanderae Rchb.f 1888

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