Notes of Guido Braem's GNTOS Presentation, 17 May 1997
by Ann Herrington
OSer, Ann Herrington, is sharing her notes of Guido Braem's May 1997 Paphiopedilum presentation at the Greater North Texas (Dallas) Orchid Society (GNTOS).
The slippers are some of the oldest orchids, evolving before the continents drifted apart. There are no fossil orchids, but it is assumed that slippers evolved in Central and South America. Slipper orchids are found in just about every part of the world, with a few notable exceptions, including Africa and Madagascar. There are four genera of slipper orchids, Cypripedium, Paphiopedilum, Selenipedium, and Phragmipedium, plus one new monotypic genus, Mexipedium.
The Cypripediums are found in Asia, the Americas, and Europe. They are true terrestrials, and live in association with certain fungi that are necessary for their proper development. Europe has only one species, C. calceolus. North America, on the other hand, is rich in Cypripediums, from Texas to Canada. Cyps also grow in the Himalayas, Japan, and Mexico, in conditions ranging from frigid to hot, and from wet to dry.
An interesting feature of Cyps is the "windows" in their pouches that guide pollinators through the proper channels to pick up pollen, which is deposited on the next flower visited.
The Phragmipediums are confined to Central and South America. Most of them are quite variable, with Phrag. besseae (pronounced bess'-e-aye) coming in yellow, orange, peach, and different reds. The staminodal shield in phrags is a third anther. When seeking identification from a taxonomist, send photos of the staminodal shield from the front, side, and back. Variability isn't confined to color: one phrag from Mexico has no staminode, and another has no pouch (Phrag. lindleyanum). Most of them grow in wet environments, frequently with their roots in running water, although the newest one, which has been given its own genus, Mexipedium xerophyticum (tiny 5" plant size, 1/2" flower), grows in the Mexican desert in very dry conditions.
Phrag. vittatum from Brazil thrives where bush fires frequently occur. After the fires, the phrag populations come back larger and stronger than ever.
The South American genus Selenipedium isn't in cultivation, because it has small flowers on 16' plants!
The genus Paphiopedilum grows in Asia, from China to Borneo, with one species (druryi) present in India. They generally like alkaline conditions. Again, variability seems to be the rule, and color difference isn't enough to define separate species. Some are easy in cultivation, others difficult. Some are small plants with large flowers, others are relatively large plants with huge flowers. Paph. rothschildianum flowers can measure 12" across, and Paph. sanderianum petals are reported at 4' long. Staminodes are identifying characteristics, as with the phrags. Be careful when pursuing albino or alba plants. Alba means pure white, and albino means no red pigmentation. It's best to buy a plant in bloom to be sure of what you are getting.
