Paphiopedilum nivaeum

A significant and very easily discernible species of the Brachylopetalum section of the genus . Its flowers are unmistakably snow-white (hence ''nivaeum'')and covered all over with delicate red dots . The unusual color of its flowers was also used in breeding -see the hybrid in the photo bearing the name P. Olivia(P. tonsum x P. nivaeum) . Another Venus's shoe-P. ang-thong-that is notive to the eponymous islands on the east coast of Malaysia,is sometimes considered a mere subspecies of P. nivaeum. The leaves are up to 6 in/15 cm long, decorated with a dark marbling ,and reddish on the underside . Its spikes bear one ,rarely two flowers and they reach lengths of 4.8 in / 12 cm . The flower lip is regularly egg-shaped . The species grows on limestone rocks in close proximity to the sea and therefore needs a lot of sunshine and a cool humid breeze. It does not do well in cultivation and develop only slowly . The flowers appear between April and July . The plants habitat is the malayan coast,mainly the Langkawi archipelago,Thailand.