Paphiopedilum ID

[Alec]

I wonder if you very keen slipper orchid keepers can help me with an ID.
This is a Paphiopedilum that I bought some 6 months ago from a very reputable UK orchid specialist company.
It's been growing quite well for me, and has just opened it's first flower.

The orchid was sold to me as a Paph godefroyae.
However, the markings on the flower look to be un-typical for that species.


Can anyone help me with some guidance on it's ID?

Alec

 

[HMG]

Very pretty.

I do not think there is a godefroyae or hybrid with godefroyae.
My guess is niveum x concolor, paph Doctor Jack.
Hans

 

[SlipperFan]

Sure looks like it has niveum in it.

 

[Roy]

Looks like a straight P. niveum to me.

 

[Alec]

Thanks for the answers. Very helpful. It sure is a puzzler to me.
Looking at web pics Paph niveum does look more likely than Paph godefroyae.

But the range of marking on Godefroyae is clearly very variable. Would you say that an albinistic version of that would be similar to my plant?

Also do the leaf colours & patterns give any good clues?

This is only my second species Paphiopedilum to flower, being fairly new to keeping paphs and I much prefer to keep species to hybrids (just a personal preference!), so it's a bit disturbing to find that even a very reputable trader seemingly makes this sort of mistake.

When I bought it from their stand at a local show, there were many so-called 'godefroyae' there together (so it wasn't that someone had switched a single label), and they all looked the same.

Alec

 

[TyroneGenade]

Doesn't niveum have a firmer flower stem? This one looks floppy. Alec (well done on getting this one to flower), was the plant growing on a windowsil stretching for the sun? Or is the flower stem floppy?

 

[goldenrose]

Looks like a straight P. niveum to me.

That's my guess too! It's the season for niveum & it has typical niv stam markings/coloring. My nivs have taller, firm stems but I would imagine that could change from plant to plant & the overall conditions.

 

[Alec]

Hi Tyrone
I may be partly responsible for the flower drooping a bit. It developed lying on a leaf like this.

I actually pushed it off the leaf towards the window. Should probably have left it alone to do it's own thing!

It grows on an east-facing window.

Here is a pic of the underside of a leaf. Might help with ID.

Alec

 

[NYEric]

niveum, to me.

 

[CodPaph]

is niveum.

 

[TyroneGenade]

Oo, I see that is quite a firm stem after all...

 

[SlipperKing]

My vote is also for niveum, flower bracket, underside of leaves all say"niveum"

 

[Alec]

Well, you folks were right.
I got a reply from the respectable company that sold it to me, their supplier admits to having mixed up some niveums with the godefroyae he sold to them.

It's just knowing.....

Many Thanks Again
Alec