Paphiopedilum violascens   SCHLECHTER

Section: Barbata

 

The "correct" name of this Paphiopedilum is a bit difficult, as it is commercially available under two names: Paph. violascens and Paph. papuanum

This is due to the different occurrences of these species:

One site is near Jayapura (Irian Jaya (ex-Papua) - Indonesia) and other sites are found on small islands (e.g. KarKar) and on the mainland of Papua New Guinea (see map).

In the trade, the name Paph. papuanum (from Papua) "enforced", but the same plant is also used under the name Paph. traded violascens.

The following names would be better:

Paph. violasens var. "Papua"

Paph. violascens var. "PNG"


It is said that there are different locations of these plants around Jayapura (Irian Jaya): some plants grow "alkaline" on limestone rocks while others are said to grow in "acidic" leaf humus - these differences may also apply to the localities in Papua and PNG. That doesn't make culture of this kind easy.
However, the offered offspring of this species are easier to cultivate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

comparison photos from an orchid friend:

 

 

fotos from situ in Papua: