Question about Paph helenae
 

Is Paph helenae still illegal in the US? Perhaps it never was, but I've been told it is.

Good question, I know a few growers here in Florida who have plants and have even made crosses but will not talk about them.

I think if it came from Vietnam, it is still illegal(altho we already trade with Vietnam and go to their country as tourists...
I think it was one of those AOS banning anything coming from Vietmam during the 70's and it was never revised...
but I have Honkong growers in NYC chinatown who sell them...but I am still growing my two paphs and making it bloom before I attempt in getting a third...Helenae would be a nice choice...

Let's not get fast and loose with with the AOS. The AOS doesn't have the power to ban any plants. The least it could do, if it chose, would be to refuse to award any particular plant.
Paph. helenae was not discovered until 1995, and there have been 8 AOS awards given since 2007. Obviously it is legally available in the US. Like all Paphiopedilums, it is listed in Appendix I of CITES, and subject to those restrictions.

I know several growers who have one or two. (I might know one really well...:whistling) Plants were all purchased from reputable growers who wouldn't knowingly traffic in illegal plants. I would like to know if it's legal or illegal also. Seems a shame to keep such a pretty little plant that is doing so well and about to flower under wraps.

Sorry about the AOS dibs...I was just thinking ...not really sure. Then I guess it is not illegal to own it...it is illegal to import/export if you have to deal with CITES...if it is already inside your home; I dont think anyone from CITES will go and confiscate it...

I never understood the concept of making an orchid illegal to own, it justs puts more pressure on the wild plants. I can understand the ban on a freshly discovered orchid, but once it's in commercial cultivation there's no reason for it.

I don't think "illegal to own" is the primary concern.

The intent of CITES is to manage international trade in endangered species. Appendix I plants are those in most danger of extinction, and so are severely controlled, with transfer of wild-collected specimens being limited to non-commercial purposes that will not be detrimental to the survival of the species. In orchids, the following are in Appendix I (all others are in II):

Aerangis ellisii
Dendrobium cruentum
Laelia jongheana
Laelia lobata
Paphiopedilum spp.
Peristeria elata
Phragmipedium spp.
Renanthera imschootiana

However, it also clearly states that for those species, "...seedling or tissue cultures obtained in vitro, in solid or liquid media, and transported in sterile containers are not subject to the provisions of the Convention only if the specimens meet the definition of ‘artificially propagated’ agreed by the Conference of the Parties".

Where the "illegal" aspect of some plants comes from is in the interpretation by the authorities in the importing nation. For example, the USFWS ruled that as Vietnam had never issued any CITES export documents (I believe that has changed recently), any plant endemic to that nation MUST have been exported illegally - a threat to its survival in nature - so is not permitted entry.