So, my one and only Paphiopedilum orchid from one week ago has been "multiplying" extremely rapidly and now, it has thrown a "mutated offshoot" - while I was away at another orchid show! Phylogenetic studies have since identified this new growth as Paphiopedilum Isabel Booth:
[(rothschildianum x stonei var. latifolium) x philippinense var. roebelenii]
My pet parrots are getting insanely jealous of the time I am spending with my Paphiopedilum orchids and they attacked this plant. It had 4 flowers on its flower spike in the morning, but by the afternoon there were only 2 left:
The lower flower was too badly damaged. You can see how abnormally vertical its pouch is positioned in the above photo.
Now, there is only 1 flower left:
NAUGHTY PARROTS!
Here is an old photo of the most likely culprit - he was found perched on top of the shower screen, looking very smug!
Oh well, never mind! There is a new growth already so if I grow it well, another flower spike will form eventually. The dorsal sepal leaves something to be desired but I love the amazing twisted, pendulous petals from its roebelenii heritage!
Photo of the whole plant:
There is one mature growth with a leaf-span of 75 cm and a flower spike which is 42 cm tall, plus one new growth.