Paphiopedilum emersonii, described in 1982, is a species of orchid named after American orchid enthusiast Emerson 'Doc' Charles. The plant blooms from late spring to early summer with one to two flowers per an infloresensce. The plant size is small when compared to other Paphiopedilums. Flowers are fragrant.

Distribution

Paphiopedilum emersonii is found in northern Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...

 and in Guangxi

Guangxi

Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...

, southeastern Yunnan

Yunnan

Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...

 and southern Guangdong

Guangdong

Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...

 provinces of China

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

. It is found in rocks, sandstone, and clay on mossy cliffs in elevations of 460 to 750 meters. The area is subjected to dryness from late fall to spring with slight fog and drizzle. In the summer, there they are subjected to heavy rain.

Culture

Keep plant in a moderately bright area with cool to intermediate temperatures from 45F to 90F. To induce blooming reduce watering for 3 to 4 weeks during the winter. Keep humidity at 60 to 80%. The plant is easy to flower. Pot in a mix of bark, perlite, and charcoal. Variations including coconut husk chips are also used.

Varieties/forms

• Paphiopedilum emersonii var. album yellow dorsal sepal and peach lip
• Paphiopedilum emersonii f./var. luteum yellow petals, yellow dorsal sepal, and yellow lip. Found in southeastern Yunnan.