Paphiopedilum papuanum (Ridl.) L.O.Williams, Bot. Mus. Leafl. 12 (1946) 149
Basionym: Cypripedium papuanum
A terrestrial herb. Leaves 4-6, oblong to oblong-elliptic, obtuse at tridenticulate apex, 6.5-22 by 2-4.2 cm. Inflorescence 1-flowered; peduncle 15-28 cm long, pubescent. Floral bract ovate, 1.2-1.5 cm long, pubescent. Flower 6-9 cm across; pedicel and ovary c. 5 cm long. Median sepal ovate, acute, 2.4-2.5 by 1.8-2.6 cm, ciliate, pubescent on outer side. Synsepal elliptic-lanceolate, subacute, 1.6-1.8 by 0.8-1.3 cm. Petals oblong-oblanceolate, obtuse, 4-4.2 by 1.2-1.7 cm, ciliolate. Lip 2.5-3.7 by 1.4 cm. Staminode transversely lunate, notched above, 0.4-0.5 cm long, 0.6 cm wide, apical teeth short, blunt. (After Cribb, 1998)
Colours: Leaves tessellated dark and light green, with dark green veins. Median sepal white with a yellowish or greenish centre with purplish veins; petals dull maroon, spotted with black in the yellowish basal half; lip dull crimson or brownish maroon.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lower montane forest; 759 m.
Flowering time in the wild: Not known.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea (Southern Highlands Province, exact locality not ascertained, not included in map). See map: 521-123M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.
Note: Similar to Paphiopedilum violascens, from which it differs in the blackish dots at the base of the petals and in the relatively much broader staminode.