Paphiopdilum esquirolei

A species with a peculiar feature consisting in that all the parts of its beautiful flowers are covered with hairs . P. esquirolei is sometimes considered a mere variety of a very similar ''hirsute'' species P. hirsutissimum (this ''maternal '' species is relatively more common in its plundered natural habitat). The leaves are monochromatically green ;the wiry spike brings a single flower to the height of 10 in/25 cm . The flower is up to 4.8 in /12 cm across and has an oval ,brown -and - green upper sepal and metallic -glossy , purple petals . The lip is quite small in comparison with the other flower parts ;it is yellow and covered with a dark red dots. Cultivation is not difficult ;it is more of a problem to acquire the plant in the first place . Although it can also be grown in temperate conditions ,you will induce the plant to producing more flowers by exposing it to cooler conditions in the winter . It blooms in the spring (between February and May ) and is native to Laos .