Paphiopedilum rothschildianum

국표에 없다.

Paphiopedilum Julius (rothschildianum x lowii)

Paphiopedilum rothschildianum

Paphiopedilum rothschildianum, commonly known as the Gold of Kinabalu orchid or Rothschild's slipper orchid, is a large, clear-leafed species of orchid. It blooms with a tall inflorescence of up to six, large flowers. It is unique to the Corypetalum group for holding its petals almost horizontally, giving the flower a distinctive appearance. The peak flowering period is from April to May.

Origin and Preservation

Paphiopedilum rothschildianum is endemic to Mount Kinabalu on Borneo Island, which is part of the Malaysian state of Sabah. Paphiopedilum rothschildianum has become known as "The King of Orchids" as it is one of the most sought-after and rarest species of orchid in the world.

After being first described in the 19th century by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach, it caused a flurry by those seeking to obtain it at any cost.After its discovery, its location was kept a secret by the company Sander & Sons, to purposefully misguide those seeking to find it. It was published that Paphiopedilum rothschildianum was located in New Guinea instead of Mount Kinabalu, where it had actually originated. Due to this obfuscation regarding its habitat, the orchid was thought to be extinct until the late 1950s. In 1959, two populations of Paphiopedilum rothschildianum were discovered at the base of Mount Kinabalu, drawing the attention of orchid collectors worldwide.

As of today, Paphiopedilum rothschildianum is critically endangered, and the number of individuals found in its natural habitat continues to decrease. This is due in part to the illegal poaching of Paphiopedilum rothschildianum for regional and international trade, which has continued despite the plants occurring in a protected area. The orchid is highly sought after, with prices reaching as high as US$5000 for a single plant. Furthermore, continued exploitation for horticulture, as well as other disturbances such as mining activities, logging, and habitat destruction (by fire in one specific case), have also been to blame for the significant decrease in Paphiopedilum rothschildianum's natural occurrence.

Preservation attempts are currently underway to protect the orchid, and it is hoped that in the future, propagated Paphiopedilum rothschildianum may be reintroduced into its natural habitat. In the meantime, preservation attempts such as fencing the protected areas and securing them more fully have been suggested, alongside more community awareness so that Paphiopedilum rothschildianum may be able to thrive in the future.

Paphiopedilum rothschildianum - Wikipedia

 

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