Paphiopedilum wardii Summerhayes 1932 Subgen Sigmatopetalum Sec. Planipetalum Karasawa & Saito 1982 Photo courtesy of Patricia Harding
Staminode Closeup Photo courtesy of Jay Pfahl
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MID 
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Common Name Ward's Paphiopedilum [English Plant Collector 1900's]
Flower Size 4" [10 cm]
This small sized, terrestrial, mottled leaf species is found in SW China and Northern Burma in deep leaf litter on cliff faces at elevations of 1200 to 1500 meters with 3 to 5, oblong-lanceolate, dark blue green motttled paler on top and mottled purple underneath leaves that blooms on an erect, 8" [20 cm] long, terminal inflorescence with lanceolate, ciliate, green flushed purple floral bracts carrying one glossy flower occuring in the mid-winter to early spring.
Considered by some to be a natural hybrid between P venustum and P sukhakulii.
Synonyms Cypripedium vernayi F.K.Ward 1938; Cypripedium wardianum Cooper 1951; Cypripedium wardii [Summerhayes] Curtis 1933; Paphiopedilum brevilabium Liu & Zhang 2001; Paphiopedilum burmanicum J.Yong Zhang & Z.J.Liu 2001; Paphiopedilum microchilum Liu & Chen 2001; Paphiopedilum multifolium Liu & Zhang 2001; Paphiopedilum wardii f. alboviride (O.Gruss & Roeth) Braem 1998; Paphiopedilum wardii var. alboviride O.Gruss & Roeth 1998
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
Wild Orchids of China Tsi, Chen Mori 1997; Wild Orchids in Myanamar Vol 2 Tanaka 2004; Wild Orchids in Myanamar Vol 3 Tanaka 2007;
Paphiopedilum wardii var album Summerhayes 1932
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