''Paphiopedilum armeniacum'' is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family,
Orchidaceae. It is known commonly as the apricot orange paphiopedilum
[Rankou, H. & Averyanov, L. 2015]
''Paphiopedilum armeniacum''.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015. Downloaded on 12 September 2015. and golden slipper orchid.
[''Paphiopedilum armeniacum''.]
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. It is
endemic to
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
, where it occurs only in
Yunnan.
[ It is also cultivated and has won prestigious awards at flower shows.][Liu, Z., et al. (2006)]
Conservation ecology of endangered species ''Paphiopedilum armeniacum'' (Orchidaceae).
''Acta Ecologica Sinica'', 26(9), 2791-99.
This plant grows in soil or on rocks, spreading via creeping stolon
In biology, stolons (from Latin '' stolō'', genitive ''stolōnis'' – "branch"), also known as runners, are horizontal connections between organisms. They may be part of the organism, or of its skeleton; typically, animal stolons are external s ...
s. It produces 5 to 7 leathery purple-spotted green leaves each up to 12 centimeters long. There is usually one flower atop the hairy, purple-green scape, but occasionally a second flower is produced. The flower is up to 9 centimeters wide. It is yellow in color, streaked and spotted with maroon.[''Paphiopedilum armeniacum''.]
Flora of China.
In the wild this species grows on limestone substrates in rocky, brushy habitat. Its range is mainly limited to the Nu Jiang River Valley.[ The population is fragmented and the species is in decline due to habitat destruction. The valuable plant is also poached for use in the horticultural trade.][
]
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1935745
armeniacum
Endangered plants
Orchids of Yunnan
Plants described in 1982