Paphiopedilum appletonianum   ROLFE

Section Barbata

 

Paph. appletonianum has a large distribution area and occurs in Thailand, Laos, Kombodia, Vietnam and southern China.

These plants also grow on Hainan Island and are known as Paph. hainanense has been described. Some taxonomists see them merely as a synonym of Paph. appletonianum, considered a variety by others.

In southern Thailand grows the Paph. wolterianum, which has a slightly different staminode and the position of the petals are different from Paph. appletonianum.
The foliage color also differs, particularly with a reddish base on the underside of the leaves.

Some botanists still count the Paph. cerveranum (formerly Paph. robinsonii) to Paph. appletonianum, however, Guido Braem has defined it as an independent species and will describe it in a separate article.

 

For a better comparison of different clones next to each other:

 

 

 

Paph. appletonianum f. album