Introduction to and History of the Genus

The genus Phragmipedium is native to the western hemisphere. Plants in this genus have been found growing in southern Mexico (Chiapas), and in Central and South America, in such countries as Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, The Guianas, Brazil, Panama, and Costa Rica.

Phragmipediums have gone by many names through the years, such as Selenipedium, Cypripedium, and Paphiopedium. This multitude of names reflects the confusion surrounding this genus since 1830, when Phragmipediums were first discovered.

The name "Phragmipedium" is derived from the Greek: "phragma," meaning division or fence, and "pedium," meaning slipper, in allusion to the triocular ovary and the slipper-shaped labellum, more commonly called a pouch. The genus Phragmipedium was established by Rolfe in 1896 through a publication in The Orchid Review. At that time, he classified all of the "slipper" orchids, then known as Selenipediums, and established the four individual genera mentioned above (Cypripedium, Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium, and Selenipedium). Later, with the discovery and description of the peloric Phragmipedium lindenii, Lindley established a fifth related genus and named it "Uropedium," a name seldom seen today, as P. lindenii is generally accepted as a Phragmipedium. In 1970, Dr. Leslie Garay revised the genus Phragmipedium along the lines of the five alliances or sections established by Pfitzer in 1903. Dr. Garay is the Curator of the Oakes Ames Herbarium at Harvard University.

Sections of the Genus Phragmipedium

Micropetalum P. besseae P. schlimii

Platypetalum P. kaieteurum P. lindleyanum P. sargentianum

Phragmipedium P. caudatum P. lindenii P. wallisii P. warscewiczianum

Himantopetalum P. caricinum P. ecuadorense P. pearcei P. klotzscheanum

Ceratopedilum P. boissieranum P. czerwiakowianum P. dariense P. hartwegii P. longifolium P. reticulatum P. roezlii P. vittatum P. hinksianum

Judging Factors

The AOS Handbook on Judging and Exhibition does not include specific criteria, nor a specific point scale for judging Phragmipediums. However, using the point scale for Paphiopedilums is not completely inappropriate, and certainly better than using the general scale. At first glance, some Phrag's are difficult to distinguish from the Asian paphiopedilums, but as you begin to compare them, you find several differences. In Phrag's, for instance, the two side-lobes of the labellum come together and fuse at their edges. The point of fusion is on the inner face of the labellum, just below the staminode. This fusion converts the stem area of the labellum into a tube that funnels the pollinator up into the area of the stigma and the pollinia. Although Paphiopedilums and Cypripediums also "funnel" their pollinators, the side lobes of the labellum do not come together completely or "fuse" in those genera.

Phragmipedium foliage ranges from the grassy type of the Platypetalum Section (1/4" to 1/2" wide and 6" to 10" long), to the green, leathery, strap-type foliage of the Phragmipedium Section (1" to 2" wide and 18" to 24" long). Phragmipedium growth habits and habitats vary from truly epiphytic, to lithophytic (mossy rocks), to terrestrial (grassy stream banks). The flowering inflorescence usually rises from the foliage axial following the growth of the eighth axial leaf. Depending on the species, the inflorescence can reach 75 cm, along the length of which are developed leafy bracts. One to fourteen (P. sargentianum) flowers develop from these bracts.

Section 1: Micropetalum (2 species)

These are described as the "small petal slippers." Sepals are rather broad, never tapering toward the apex. Petals similar to sepals but larger. This is the only section that somewhat conforms to the concept of judging Paphiopedilums, because the flowers have a rounded shape and the segments are broad in proportion to the rest of the flower. This section was monotypic (contained only Phrag. schlimii) until the 1980's, when Phrag. besseae, native to Peru, was added.

Section 2: Platypetalum (3 species)

These are described as the "broad petal slippers." The petals and sepals are dissimilar in shape; the petals are twice as long as the sepals, and are fully developed when the flower opens (as opposed to growing longer as the flower matures after opening). The flowers are variously sheathed and produced in succession. P. kaieteurum and P. lindleyanum are from Guyana and Venezuela; P. sargentianum grows lithophytically on cliff faces and has been recently rediscovered in Pernambuco, Brazil.

Section 3: Phragmipedium (4 species)

The flowers of all plants belonging to this section are characterized by the peculiar development of the petals which grow many times longer than the sepals. There is also a peloric species, of questionable ancestory. The section has three known species; four, if you accept Dr. Garay's theory on using the staminodes as a means of distinguishing all Phragmipedium species. Those in this section are P. caudatum, P. wallisi, P. warscewiczianum, and maybe P. lindenii. P. caudatum is rather localized to Peru and Ecuador. P. wallisi is localized to southern Ecuador. P. warscewiczianum is found in Columbia and Central America. P. lindenii, the peloric phrag, is found throughout Ecuador, Columbia, and Venezuela.

Section 4: Himantopetalum (4 species)

The four species that comprise this section are not easy to distinguish. However, P. klotzscheanum is unique because of its pubescent flower scape, and because its range of distribution is quite isolated from the rest of the species, all of which are found in the Andean highlands. P. pearcei, native to Ecuador and Peru, is the most common species of the section in cultivation. It has a very heavily pubescent staminode. P. caricinum, with colonies in Bolivia and Peru, shares many morphologic characteristics, as well as a confusing taxonomic history. However, using Dr. Garay's staminode theory, we are able to distinguish P. caricinum, P. pearcei, and P. ecuadorense. P. ecuadorense is native to Ecuador and Peru, and its petals have the unusual characteristic of draping themselves around the collar area of the pouch, extending downward, parallel to the inflorescence. This, along with its densely pubescent, cordate, triangular staminode, help in separating P. ecuadorense from P. pearcei and P. caricinum.

Section 5: Ceratopedilum (9 species)

There are nine species grouped in this section. However, two are suspect of being varietal forms of other species, and others are so rare that slide material is not available (P. dariense, P. roezlii, and P. hinksianum). This section was named by Pfitzer in 1903, described as the "horned pouch" group. P. longifolium, from Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia, and Ecuador, is the type species and is the most commonly grown species in this section. It is characterized by a pair of horned protruberances on each side of the labellum. The big question connected with P. longifolium is whether P. hartwegii, P. roezlii, and P. hinksianum are varietal forms or different species.

Dr. Garay separates them on the basis of staminode differences. Others say that staminode differences, floral bractsizes, and lip discrepancies can be found in plants growing in the same colony, suggesting that they are just varietal forms of the particular species (pers. comm., Lucile M. McCook).

Perhaps the greatest confusion in this section is the relationship of P. boissieranum and P. czerwiakowianum, native to Peru, and P. reticulatum (Ecuador and Peru). Because of obvious similarities in general appearance, the tendency of most growers is to argue from similarity to identity. Dr. Garay answers these arguments by stating that in P. czerwiakowianum, the apex of the lateral sepals, as well as the crispate margins are always recurved, and the claw base of the labellum is always as long as the inflated apical half. The staminode of P. czerwiakowianum is pentagonal or hexagonal, whereas the staminode of P. boissieranum has rhombic points, and its lateral sepals are navicular, without recurved margins.P. reticulatum has an obtuse staminode and has lateral sepals similar to those of P. boissieranum. P. vittatum is the only species of this section with yellow-margined leaves and floral bracts. Its staminode is cordate-triangular. It can also be identified by the distinct pattern on the face of the labellum, sharply divided into an upper white to yellow unspotted zone and a lower, dark zone with green to yellow-brown spots. P. vittatum is known only from several locations in Brazil.

Summary

The specific identification of the different species should, logically, be left to the botanists and taxonomists. However, as judges, our understanding of the plants presented to us for possible awards is equally important. A good, general knowledge of the species of this genus is imperative. As judges, it behooves us to be aware of the historical confusion inthe genus and educate ourselves. We now have an updated review of the genus by Lucile M. McCook, a botanist and postdoctoral associate with the National Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian Institution, through two articles that were published in the AOS Bulletin (Nov. '89, Feb. '90). It appears that she has spent a considerable time in the field, observing and examining various colonies of Phragmipediums throughout Central and South America. She presents a convincing, logical argument on limiting the number of phrag species ["lumping"]. Everyone should read these two articles, along with Dr. Leslie Garay's article in the July-August '79 issue of Orchid Digest, which presents the opposite side of the argument ["splitting"]. Remember, a well-informed judge will be a better judge. By the same token, a well-informed grower will better understand the genus that he or she is trying to grow and present for award judging.