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Paphiopedilum argus (Reichenbach fil.) Stein

• Described: Reichenbach fil. in Gardener's Chronicle, 1st series, 33: 608 (1873)
• Transferred: Stein in Stein's Orchideenbuch, 453 (1892)
• Etymology: Named after Argus, the 100-eyed guardian of Io in Greek Mythology, because of the spotted petals.
• Varieties & Forms: none
• Synonyms:
  Cypripedium moensianum hort. in Lindenia, 3: pl. 129 (1887)
  Cypripedium pitcherianum W.A. Manda in American Florist, 3: 178 (1887)
  Paphiopedilum sriwaniae Koopwitz in American Orchid Society Bulletin, 60(8): 781-784 (1991)
• Chromosome Count -

  2n =	metacentrics	telocentrics	n.f.
  38	14	24	52

Plant Habit

• Leaves: 3-5, 9-24 cm long, 2-5 cm wide, above green with dark green mottling, below purple-spotted at base, basal margins ciliate
• Inflorescence: 1-flowered, 30-45 cm long, purple-green, shortly pubescent
• Bloom: 6-8 cm wide, quite variable
• Plant:
  

Habitat Data

• Distribution -
  
• Elevation: 1150-1600 m
• Peak Flowering in the Wild: March-April
• Ecology: along volcanic ridges under low forests
• Mean Temperature Range: 17-20° C
• Light: light-moderate shade
• Medium: leaf litter, humus, mosses
• Water (D-drier, M-moderate, W-wetter) -

  Month

  Jan

  Feb

  Mar

  Apr

  May

  Jun

  Jul

  Aug

  Sep

  Oct

  Nov

  Dec

  Water

  W

  W

  M

  M

  M

  M

  W

  W

  W

  M

  W

  W

Notes:

• Paph. sriwaniae was described based on the first flowering of four wild-collected plants which produced abnormal blooms.  The plants flowered normally the following year.

Sources:

• Atwood, J.T. Jr. "The Relationships of the Slipper Orchids (Subfamily Cypripedioideae, Orchidaceae)." Selbyana 7, no. 2/4 (Aug 1984): 129-247.
• Braem, Guido J., and Guy Chiron. Paphiopedilum. Saint-Genis Laval, France: Tropicalia, 2003.
• Cribb, Phillip J. The Genus Paphiopedilum. Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia: Natural History Publications in association with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 1998.
• Fowlie, J.A. "Malaya Revisited XXII, A Visit to the Habitat of Paphiopedilum argus." Orchid Digest 47, 1 (Jan/Feb 1983): 4-9.
• Hooker, J.D. "Cypripedium argus. Native of the Philippine Islands." Curtis's Botanical Magazine 101 (1875): Tab. 6175. <view article>
• Karasawa, K. "Karyomorphological Studies in Paphiopedilum, Orchidaceae." Bulletin of the Hiroshima Botanical Garden 2 (Mar 1979): 1979.

Primary Hybrids

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Page Created By: Stephen Manza
Last Updated: 10-23-06
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