Phragmipedium besseae Dodson & J. Kuhn
in American Orchid Society Bulletin 50: 1308, 1981.
Basionym :
Type :
Synonyms :
Paphiopedilum besseae (Dodson & J. Kuhn)V.A. Albert & Börge Pettersson in Lindleyana 9(2): 137, 1994.
Varieties :
Phrag. besseae f. flavum
Etymology : This species is named after Elizabeth Locke Besse who discovered this species in Peru during a botanical expedition for the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in 1981.
Description
Plant : The plants have relatively large distances between the individual shoots.
Leaves : The leaves are narrow-elliptic in shape.
Inflorescence : The flowers of this species open successively.
Flower : The petals are quite wide, almost oval in shape. The colour of the flowers varies from bright orange-red to almost strong salmon-red.
Habitat :
Distribution : Ecuador (Dptm. Morona-Santiago) and Peru (Dptm. San Martin)
Flowering season :
Chromosomes : 2n = 24 (Wimber).
History : The discovery of Phrag. besseae in Peru in 1981 by Elizabeth Besse was one of the most astonishing events in the history of orchid discoveries in the last decades. Elizabeth Besse was together with Joe Halton and Harry Luther, for the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens on a botanical expedition in Peru, when along the road from Tarpato to Yurimaguas, she came across some slipper orchids. She took some photos and prepared herbarium material from the plants. She also collected some living specimens for the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida. At first it was believed that they had made the first discovery of Phrag. schlimii at the east side of the Andes. Imagine their surprise when the collected plants showed their first flower in the botanical garden. The striking red colour of the flower, which is unique among the slipper species, together with other features of the flower made it clear that they had found a completely new species. This new species was described in the AOS Bulletin in 1981 by Calaway H. Dodson and Janet Kuhn as Phrag. besseae after its discoverer.
Unfortunately after the publication so many plants were collected in an irresponsible manner that at the original site in Peru the plants are now considered to be extinct. It is fortunate though that later new growing sites were discovered in Peru and also in Ecuador.
Comments :
Hybrids :
Phrag. besseae
x Phrag. boissierianum = Phrag. Lutz Röllke
x Phrag. boissierianum var. czerwiakowianum = Phrag. Robert Palm
x Phrag. caricinum = Phrag. Mary Bess
x Phrag. caudatum = Phrag. Ruby Slippers
x Phrag. caudatum var. wallisii = Phrag. Maria Glanz
x Phrag. caudatum var. warscewiczianum = Phrag. Super Rubies
x Phrag. dalessandroi = Phrag. Jersey
x Phrag. fischeri = Phrag. Barbara LeAnn
x Phrag. hirtzii = Phrag. Mountain Maid
x Phrag. klotzscheanum = Phrag. Will Chantry
x Phrag. kovachii = Phrag. Fritz Schomburg
x Phrag. lindleyanum = Phrag. Andean Fire
x Phrag. lindleyanum var. kaieteurum = Phrag. Rosalie Dixler
x Phrag. lindleyanum var. sargentianum = Phrag. Memoria Dick Clements
x Phrag. longifolium = Phrag. Eric Young
x Phrag. pearcei = Phrag. Olaf Gruss
x Phrag. pearcei var. ecuadorense = Phrag. Ecua-Bess
x Phrag. richteri = Phrag. Franz Glanz
x Phrag. schlimii = Phrag. Hanne Popow
x Phrag. vittatum = Phrag. Vittabess
x Phrag. Albopurpureum = Phrag. Stacey Ann Lynn
x Phrag. Andean Fire = Phrag. Inca Fire
x Phrag. Anne Port = Phrag. Mont Capel
x Phrag. April Fool = Phrag. Jimi Hendrix
x Phrag. Arthur = Phrag. Wössner Arthur
x Phrag. Barbara LeAnn = Phrag. Waunakee Sunset
x Phrag. Beauport = Phrag. Icho Tower
x Phrag. Calurum = Phrag. Flying Fortress
x Phrag. Cardinale = Phrag. April Fool
x Phrag. Carol Kanzer = Phrag. Wössner Perle
x Phrag. Cleola = Phrag. Acker's Eternal Flame
x Phrag. Conchiferum = Phrag. Memoria John Fortunio
x Phrag. Coral Jewel = Phrag. Will Ostrander
x Phrag. Dana Hutchinson = Phrag. Memoria Bud Mellott
x Phrag. Demetria = Phrag. Baby B
x Phrag. Dennis Kleinbach = Phrag. Dragon Dance
x Phrag. Desormes = Phrag. Grosnez Castle
x Phrag. Dominianum = Phrag. Acker's Solar Flare
x Phrag. Don Wimber = Phrag. Rachel Kirk
x Phrag. Elizabeth Castle = Phrag. Windsor Castle
x Phrag. Eric Young = Phrag. Don Wimber
x Phrag. Fischer's Fire = Phrag. Mirage
x Phrag. Flying Fortress = Phrag. Aurora
x Phrag. Giganteum = Phrag. Waunakee Sunrise
x Phrag. Grande = Phrag. China Dragon
x Phrag. Green Dragon = Phrag. Candlelight
x Phrag. Grouville = Phrag. Sorel Point
x Phrag. Hanne Popow = Phrag. Saint Ouen
x Phrag. Jason Fischer = Phrag. Scarlet O'Hara
x Phrag. Jersey = Phrag. Karame
x Phrag. La Moye = Phrag. Amitabha
x Phrag. Les Dirouilles = Phrag. Gerry Dizon
x Phrag. Little Dragon = Phrag. Golden Dawn
x Phrag. Living Fire = Phrag. Coupe Point
x Phrag. Longueville = Phrag. Augres
x Phrag. Magdalene Rose = Phrag. Apple Pie
x Phrag. Memoria Dick Clements = Phrag. Jason Fischer
x Phrag. Memoria Garren Weaver = Phrag. Firelight
x Phrag. Mont Fallu = Phrag. Dragon's Creamsicle
x Phrag. Nicholle Tower = Phrag. Millbrook
x Phrag. Olaf Gruss = Phrag. La Rosiere
x Phrag. Pink Panther = Phrag. Inca Rose
x Phrag. Praying Mantis = Phrag. Fireglow
x Phrag. Praying Sargent = Phrag. Paul Fischer
x Phrag. Robert Palm = Phrag. Robin Redbreast
x Phrag. Rosalie Dixler = Phrag. Inca Ruby
x Phrag. Ruby Slippers = Phrag. Firestorm
x Phrag. Saint Ouen = Phrag. Prissy
x Phrag. Sarah Eadie = Phrag. Theresa Usuki
x Phrag. Schroederae = Phrag. Ronni Lynn
x Phrag. Sedenii = Phrag. Elizabeth March
x Phrag. Sergeant Eric = Phrag. Acker's Luminary
x Phrag. Silver Eagle = Phrag. Sophie Vucurevich
x Phrag. Sorcerer's Apprentice = Phrag. Living Fire
x Phrag. Summer Fire = Phrag. Fire Dance
x Phrag. Sunset Glow = Phrag. Cahaba Glow
x Phrag. Super Rubies = Phrag. Fischer's Fire
x Phrag. Taras = Phrag. Daystar
x Phrag. Twilight = Phrag. Acker's Starlight
x Phrag. Urgandiae = Phrag. Cajanuma Sunset
Unregistered hybrids :
x Phrag. x roethianum = Phrag. n.r.
Intergeneric hybrids :
x Paphiopedilum micranthum =
Phrphm. n.r.
