Paphiopedilum Pfitzer,
Morph. Stud. Orchideenbl. (1886) 11
Sympodial terrestrial or less often epiphytic plants without or with distinct rhizomes. Roots very thick and hairy, unbranched. Stem very short. Leaves few, sheathing at the base, distichous, glabrous, persistent, duplicate, often mottled, leathery. Inflorescence terminal, a few- to many-flowered raceme or carrying a single flower. Flowers large to very large, resupinate, sometimes opening in succession. Lateral sepals connate. Petals free, very different from the sepals. Lip without spur, not mobile, slipper-shaped. Column curved downwards into the opening of the lip, at the base with a shield-like appendage; column-foot absent. Fertile anthers 2, pollen not aggregated into pollinia, gel-like, sticky.
Distribution
India, tropical East Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands; about 70 species.
Distribution in the Philippines
Luzon (Kalinga-Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Rizal, Batangas, Quezon, Albay), Marinduque, Biliran, Mindoro, Apulit, Palawan, Guimaras, Panay (Iloilo), Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Camiguin, Dinagat, Mindanao (Bukidnon, Surigao, Agusan); 11 species.
Habitat
Terrestrial in lowland and montane forest, often on steep limestone cliffs. Also epiphytic on tall trees in hill forest.
Notes
This genus comprises the well-known slipper orchids. They are almost all highly sought after by collectors, as a result of this, most species are more or less seriously endangered in the wild. All species are currently listed on CITES appendix I.