Paphiopedilum bellatulum
 

The bud is finally open:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M7B1A0aqGy...bellatulum.jpg


http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--RG29nIXEv...um_closeup.jpg


http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a1tB6ayt45...ulum_plant.jpg


It was sprayed with miticide and survived. Sadly emersonii bud did rot. Malipoense bud is still growing despite miticide and being turned over by my dog.

Wow! Nice flower and photos.

Awesome.

Kim

Very nice! Congratulations.

Cheers.
Jim

Thank you all !

Wow, that is awesome.

How big is your plant?

Thank you.
It is a first blooming for this plant. There are two mature growths, the larger one is currently blooming, and the third one just started when bud appeared.

Amazing bloom!!!

Congratulations.

beautiful flower!!! good growing!

I love bellatum, and yours is nice! Please post a pic once the bloom flattens out, so I can properly drool over it! :)

Thanks everybody!
Camille, sorry, I should have more patience and wait for it to open fully before posting the pics. But it is so hard, it seems their buds take forever... :)
I will update this thread with new pictures after some time.

I completely understand your lack of patience, I pounce on my orchids with the camera as soon as a bud cracks open! :coverlaugh:

fabulous!

Beautiful! I have this on my wish list. I used to have one but it died. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you everybody!
Wynn, sorry yours died. They can be finicky those guys.

Updated picture
 

Thanks!

So I have waited some more and staked the spike to lift the flower a bit from the leaves.
I think it is as open as it can be (which is not that much), but I still like purple spots:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6nLPNhZig3...bellatulum.jpg

Very pretty!

That is soo beautiful!!!

Lovely. Like the separation of bright white from the spots.

Every time I see a bellatulum I want one. What a interesting and delicate flower. Unfortunately I don't have the right condition. I'll enjoy yours. :)