Orchids
Paphiopedilum sanderianum - the holy grail of orchids
Paphiopedilum sanderianum has petals that are over one
metre long!
First discovered in 1885 in the steaming jungles of Borneo, Paphiopedilum
sanderianum is considered one of the most startlingly spectacular
orchids ever found. Its pendulous petals can be over a metre long
and are thought to attract pollinators. Despite its extreme desirability
the plant was not seen again until 1978 - almost a century later
- by which time its very existence was in question.
The shy beauties were rediscovered in Sarawak, Borneo, by Ivan
Nielson. They are now protected within the boundaries of a National
Park. For a long time their location was a closely guarded secret!
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See also
Online
exhibition: The Romance of Orchid Discovery: the
John Day scrapbooks
Search
Kew's electronic Plant Information Centre for scientific
information about Paphiopedilum sanderianum
Buy The
Genus Paphiopedilum at kewbooks.com
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