Paphiopedilum insignum

Native to northeastern India (the Khasia hills, Meghalaya) and Bangladesh (the Sylhet region), Paphiopedilum insigne grows between 1000 and 1500 m elevation, often on dolomite limestone cliffs in light shade. This terrestrial or lithophytic slipper orchid has plain green, strap-shaped leaves and produces, in late autumn and winter, a single 7–12 cm flower, with a pale green dorsal sepal edged white and marked with dark maroon spots, yellow-brown petals veined red-brown, and a yellow lip blotched purple-brown. It requires cool to intermediate, shaded growing conditions and a moist but well-drained substrate.