paphiopedilum haynaldianum

A showy ,robust Venus's shoe with large flowers that reach over 6 in/15 cm in diameter. A rosette of 10 -in/ 25 -cm -long ,pure green leaves gives rise to a flower spike reaching a length of up to 20 in /50 cm and bearing 2-5 flowers that open one after another . The coloring in a combination of green ,brown and purple ;the color shades are dull ,providing thus a good backdrop for the large brown -and -red spots covering the extremely long petals . Interestingly ,this species also grows epiphytically in its natural habitat;it should therefore be provided with a somewhat lighter substrate .It blooms in the spring and is known to occur in the Philippines .