Paphiopedilum barbatum

The well -known and long -cultivated Venu's shoe is closely related to the species P. callosum . It is known among breeders as one of the parents of the first artificially cultivated hybrid of the entire Paphiopedilum genus (P. harrisianum in 1869 ). The plant has ''cultivaton friendly '' proportions -its marbled leaves are up to 8 in /20 cm long, while its one-flowered spike reaches a length of 10 in /25 cm . The flowers are 3.2 in/8 cm in diameter and their dominant coloring consists of different shades of red ;the upper sepal is white and embellished with 15 purple stripes , the lateral petals are also dark red (sometimes with whitish edges ). The deepest shades of gray can be admired on the dark lip. Flowers appear in the spring months . The species inhabits mosscovered rock plates in shady mountain valleys in Malaysia and Thailand .