Paph. bundtii
In recent years, lady's slippers bearing the name Paph. bundtii have been shown from time to time.
In the magazine Orchid Digest 1/1981, the name Paph. x Bundtii is described as a possible natural hybrid between Paph. mastersianum and Paph. ambonensis from the islands of Ambon and Ceram.
In 1989, Dr. Guido BRAEM described these plants as Paph. mohrianum in Orchid Digest 53 – p. 73 ff.
In the 2014 issue of Orchidee magazine 65(1), Olaf GRUSS takes up the "Paph. bundtii" hypothesis, after plants of this species were repeatedly shown at various exhibitions in Germany. This article could not provide any clarification on these plants either; they are considered synonymous with Paph. bullenianum.
Plants of this rather small species, with a maximum leaf span of 15 cm, have been offered sporadically from time to time. In the 1990s, the H. Unger nursery (then in Kriftel (Germany) – now living on Java) occasionally had a few plants of Paph. bundtii in its inventory. Another source offered me this plant as Paph. bundtianum. The SIMANIS ORCHIDS nursery in Java (Indonesia) and FLORICULTURA in the Netherlands also occasionally had Paph. bundtii in their inventory at that time.
The source of these plants was stated to be a Mr. Bundt from Ujung Padang (Sulawesi). After contacting Mr. Bundt in writing, I received the following information from him:
These plants were collected from steep, damp cliffs near Tanah Rata (Sulawesi) and brought to his small orchid garden. An orchid lover who visited Mr. Bundt in his orchid garden in the 2000s reported that, unfortunately, all the plants were sold to Japan at that time. Therefore, he could only admire existing pictures of Mr. Bundt.
It was also interesting to learn that the location of this Paph. bundtii is said to be hundreds of kilometers away from the various locations where Paph. celebesense was found. The two plants also look very different. It is striking that the leaves of Paph. celebesense are significantly larger than those of Paph. bundtii, while the flowers of Paph. bundtii are significantly larger than those of Paph. celebesense.
Here are two species compared:
Even in the 2010s, individual plants were occasionally imported to Germany. Several plants have now been propagated from seed, most of which have a uniform appearance. For some orchid enthusiasts, the name Paph. bundtii has become a permanent fixture in their collections.
Here are a few photos of Paph. bundtii:
The fact is that this plant has not yet been officially described—the name is therefore more likely a trade name. Taxonomists classify this "species" as a synonym of Paph. bullenianum.
It remains to be hoped that these plants will continue to be propagated under the name Paph. bundtii in the future.
A comparison of the individual species or regional variants of Paph. bullenianum can be found here: