Phragmipedium besseae

Phragmipedium besseae is a species of orchid in the genus Phragmipedium. It is a terrestrial plant native to the wet montane forests on the eastern slope of the Andes in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.^[2]

Phragmipedium besseae flower

Phragmipedium besseae
Photographed in southern Ecuador
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Cypripedioideae
Genus:	Phragmipedium
Species:	P. besseae
Binomial name
Phragmipedium besseae Dodson & J.Kuhn
Synonyms
Paphiopedilum besseae V.A.Albert & Börge Pett

Description

It has 13–30 cm long, 2–5 cm wide, dull green, keeled leaves. The inflorescence is 1-6 flowered, opening sequentially, up to 50 cm long, brown, pilose. It has flowers 6–9 cm wide, 11⁄2 to 21⁄2" (4 to 6.5 cm), pouch with translucent windows. Phragmipedium besseae produces long rhizomes.^[3]