Phragmipedium Kovachii

[MJSK]

I have just read "The Scent of Scandal; Greed, Betrayal, and the World's Most Beautiful Orchid" followed by Glen Decker's article in the November 2007 issue of AOS's Orchids magazine. I have never seen a Phrag. Kovachii in person, just photos and it seems to be an incredible flower.

"The Scent of Scandal" fully documents how this orchid was 'found' and named. However, the flower is so incredible, I am wondering if it has been seen before? After reading the book and article I got to thinking whether anyone had written about this plant before - over the last 150 years during which time so many orchid hunters combed forests looking for them. Could it be a newly developed species or just over looked after all these years of orchid hunting.

Does anyone here know more about this orchid?