Volume 12 > Part 1 > Year 2011 > Page 212 > Orchidaceae > Paphiopedilum

11. Paphiopedilum sukhakulii Schoser & Senghas

Orchidee (Hamburg) 16: 110, 224. 1965; Orchid Digest 31: 316. 1967: Seidenf., Bot. Tidsskr. 65: 101. 1969; 67: 92, fig. 12. 1972; P.J.Cribb, Gen. Paphiopedilum, ed. 2: 385, fig. 122, t. 76. 1998. Fig. 125; Plate XVI: 1.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : A terrestrial herb with thick pubescent roots. Leaves 3–4, narrowly oblong-elliptic, acute at tridenticulate apex, up to 13 cm long, 3–4.5 cm broad, tessellated dark green and yellow-green above. Inflorescence 1-flowered; scape purple, covered with fine white hairs; bract lanceolate, acute, 1.8–2 cm long, 0.9 cm broad, green, pubescent. Flower 11–14.3 cm across; ovary and pedicel 3.5–6 cm long, green, pubescent. Dorsal sepal concave, ovate, acuminate, 3.8–5.4 cm long, 2.6–4.4 cm broad, ciliate, pubescent on outside, white, veined with green and spotted purple at base. Synsepal lanceolate, acuminate, 3.4–4.2 cm long, 1.6–2.6 cm broad, similar in coloration and indumentum to dorsal. Petals subhorizontal, oblong-ligulate to oblanceolate, acute, 5.4–7.3 cm long, 1.5–2.4 cm broad, green heavily spotted with maroon, margins ciliate. Labellum saccate. 4.8–6.1 cm long, 2.3–3.2 cm broad, green heavily flushed and veined maroon, warty on side lobes. Column pale green, 5 mm long. Staminode with a tridentate lower margin with incurved acute lateral teeth, 8 mm tall, 11 mm broad, pubescent.

Thailand : NORTH-EASTERN: Loei (Phu Luang – type: cult. Heidelberg B.G., Sukhakul s.n., holotype -HEID).

Distribution : Endemic.

Ecology : In shade on floor of primary forests, often near streams, up to ca 1,000 m alt. Flowering: February until May.

Vernacular : Rongthao nari pik malaeng po (รองเท้านารีปีกแมลงปอ), rongthao nari sukhakun (รองเท้านารีสุขะกุล).