Paphiopedilum spicerianum is firstly recorded in China in 2003 and is considered a critically endangered orchid species in China. In response to urgent protection need of this slipper orchid, researchers from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) made efforts to tissue culture the orchid and successfully got seedlings. Some seedlings have been reintroduced to the wild. Some seedlings were planted at the Shade Plant Garden of XTBG in April 2019 and they come to bloom in December. The artificial environment is made almost identical to the natural habitats. “The blooming slipper orchid is a display of our continuous efforts to protect rare and endangered plant species”, said a researcher of XTBG. ABOUT Paphiopedilum spicerianum was found to occur in Simao, southern Yunnan, China in 2003. The population grew under a sparse mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest on a limestone cliff along a small stream at an altitude of 920 m. The population was very small, consisting of only about ten individuals. The locality of the population is near a village, and thus easily accessible by human beings, and in the neighborhood of the population occur another eight orchid species. As such, this slipper orchid was considered to be critically endangered and should be under protection as soon as possible. 
Paphiopedilum spicerianum blooms at Shade Plant Garden 
Paphiopedilum spicerianum blooms at Shade Plant Garden |
