Paphiopedilum trantuananhii   GOGNIAT & DE LOUBRESSE

Section: Paphiopedilum

Synonym: Paph. × aspersum var. trantuananhii;   Paph. barbigerum var. aspersum;   Paph. × trantuanii

 

In 2007, Garetan GOGNIA and Xavier DE LOMBRESSE described these plants as a new species Paph. trantuananhii, naming it in honor of its discoverer, Mr. TRAN TUAN ANH. Initially, it was suspected that the plant might be a natural hybrid of  Paph. henryanum and Paph. coccineum; at the very least, Paph. coccineum grew in the immediate vicinity of this new species, Paph. trantuananhii.

After extensive discussion, the authors concluded that it was neither a natural hybrid nor an artificially produced one. Paph. trantuananhii was described in a brief diagnosis, and a herbarium specimen was deposited in the Hanoi herbarium.

In the opinion of Rafael GOVAERTS, the description lacked a precise diagnosis of the new species and also failed to include a drawing. Consequently, GOVAERTS considers the description of the new species invalid and classifies the supposedly new plant as Paph. × aspersum (a natural hybrid between Paph. henryanum and Paph. coccineum).

In 2022, two of these plants were pollinated. The first plant can be seen below:

 

In the German orchid magazine "Orchideenzauber," issue 2, 2026, Olaf Gruß has established the correct name for this plant: Paphiopedilum xaspersum var. trantuananhii.

With kind permission, I am able to show the following images by C.X. Canh, who found and photographed these plants in northern Vietnam.

 

 

C.X. Canh is pictured here.

 

 

 

This image may show either a Paph. xaspersum or a Paph. coccineum.