Volume 12 > Part 1 > Year 2011 > Page 203 > Orchidaceae > Paphiopedilum

4. Paphiopedilum charlesworthii (Rolfe) Pfitzer

Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 19: 40. 1894; in Engler, Pflanzenr. IV, 50, Orchid. Pleonandreae: 75. 1903; Seidenf., Opera Bot. 124: 7, fig. la, t. la. 1995; P.J.Cribb, Gen. Paphiopedilum, ed. 2: 226, fig. 63, t. 36–37. 1998; Z.J.Liu et al. in Z.Y. Wu et al. (eds), Fl. China 25: 39. 2009.— Cypripedium charlesworthii Rolfe, Orchid Rev. 1: 303. 1893.— Cordula charlesworthii (Rolfe) Rolfe, Orchid Rev. 20: 2. 1912. Fig. 118.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : A terrestrial herb. Leaves oblong-elliptic or linear-oblong, acute and tridenticulate at apex, up to 15 cm long, 2.8 cm wide, green above, spotted purple near base below. Inflorescence 1-flowered; peduncle 8–15 cm long, shortly pubescent, pale green, heavily spotted maroon; bract obovate, very obtuse, 2.9–3.2 cm long, 1.4–2 cm wide, pale green, spotted deep maroon, ciliate. Flower up to 8 cm across; dorsal sepal pink with darker veins or rarely white; petals pale yellow green with brown, reticulate venation; labellum pinkish-brown with darker veins, staminode white; pedicel and ovary 2.8–3.9 cm long, with maroon hairs, pale green, spotted dark maroon. Dorsal sepal transversely elliptic to circular, obtuse, 4.4–5.7 cm long, 4.7–6.6 cm wide, sides spreading or reflexed, finely pubescent on outer surface. Synsepal much smaller, elliptic, subacute, 3.8–4 cm long, 2–2.8 cm wide, pale yellow, flecked and veined pale purple, finely pubescent without. Petals spreading, more or less horizontal, slightly incurved, ligulate-spathulate, obtuse, 4–4.4 cm long, 1–1.6 cm wide, slightly ciliate towards apex. Labellum with a wide mouth to sack, 3.8–4.3 cm long, 2.6–2.7 cm wide, very hairy within. Staminode obovate, 9–10 mm long, 10 mm wide, glabrous, with a central raised yellowish boss.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai.

Distribution : Myanmar (Shan State only – type), SW China (Yunnan); 1,200–1,600 m alt.

Ecology : In shade on limestone cliffs. Flowering: September until November.

Vernacular : Rongthao nari doi tung (รองเท้านารีดอยตุง)(Northern).