Phragmipediums and Paphiopedilums

Phragmipediums are among my favorite orchids.  I especially like those that grow in cloud forests.  Phragmipedium besseae and P. dalessandroi (closely related) often grow in the splash zones of waterfalls in the cloud forests of Equador and Peru.  These species are typically orange in color.  Hybrids are often made with pink phragmipedium species like P. schlimii, or P. fischerii or with red expressing species like P. lindleyanum, P. sargentianum, or P. kaieteurum.  Using a range of species in the background provides a good variety of color outcomes in the progeny.  The photo above is Phragmipedium Cardinal (Andean Fire x dalessandroi).  Andean Fire is a cross between P. besseae and P. lindleyanum.  

Here is a photo of Phragmipedium pearcei:

Phragmipediums are often referred to as slipper orchids, as are Paphiopediums.  This is due to the pouch on the bottom of the blooms.  Pollinating insects fall into the pouch and pollinate the bloom as they climb out of the pouch.  

Phragmipedium Rosalie Dixler is a Phrag I really like.

The orchid below is Paphipedilum Fanaticum, a hybrid between two species: P. maliponense and P. micranthum.