Paphiopedilum wardii - Short-Lip Slipper Orchid

Short-Lip Slipper Orchid is a small sized, terrestrial orchid with 3-5, oblong-lanceshaped, dark blue green motttled paler on top and mottled purple underneath leaves. It is named for F. Kingdon-Ward, 20th century English botanist in Asia. The plant blooms in the mid-winter to early spring on an erect, 20 cm long, at branch-ends inflorescence with lanceshaped, fringed with hairs, green flushed purple, less than half as long as the ovary floral bracts carrying a single glossy flower. Flower is 7-10 cm in diameter, dorsal sepal and synsepal white or whitish green, veined with deep green; petals greenish white, flushed with purplish brown and spotted throughout with blackish brown. Lip is greenish to pale yellow-brown, veined and finely spotted with brown; staminode greenish marbled, deep green centrally. Lip is helmet-shaped, 3.4-4.6 cm, warty on incurved lateral lobes; pouch 2.2-2.5 x 2-2.4 cm, outside slightly finely velvet-hairy. Short-Lip Slipper Orchid is believed to be extinct in East Himalaya, but is found in Myanmar to China. Flowering: December-March.