Paphiopedilum barbatum (Lindl.) Pfitzer

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘It is with no small reluctance that I represent this as a species distinct from Cypripediurm venustum, Wall. in Bot. Mag. t.2129, and Exot. Fl. t.35; or even from the C. purpuratum, Lindl. Bot. Reg. t.1991, the only distinguishing character being in the “purple hairy shining warts which border the upper edge of the petals” in our present plant.  But assuredly such warts, in a greater or less degree do exist on those of C. venustum, though they are obsolete in C.purpuratum.  Probably the different localities were considered to strengthen the idea of specific difference, the C. venustum inhabiting the north of India, about Nepal, and the two others the Malayan islands: but the mountains of tropical India are now well known to produce similar species to those of the less elevated regions of the north, and such appears to be the case in the present instance.  The colour of the lip in C. barbatum is different from that of C. venustum; but in two beautiful flowering specimens, sent to us by our friend Mr. Veitch, from Java (from which our figure was taken), one exhibited the dark purple of C. barbatum, the other the pale colour of C. venustum.  The leaves, in like manner, vary in intensity of colour and marking, and in the absence or presence of brown dots on the under side of the foliage.’  [BM t.4234/1846]. 

Introduced to Britain in 1838.  [JD].  BR Misc. 53/1841.  FS f.190, vol.III/1847.  

History at Camden Park

The only reference to this plant is a hand written entry in a copy of the 1850 catalogue held at the Mitchell Library [ML 635.9m].  This copy bears William Macarthur’s signature and the date 23rd Dec. 1854.  It did not appear in the printed 1857 edition but was almost certainly grown in the gardens at this time.

Notes