Phragmipedium besseae in bloom.

A few weeks back I took delivery of a Phragmipedium besseae. It was selected for me by Dean at Paphiness Orchids from the stock at Orchid Zone. It is my first Phragmipedium, and is also the very first non-Cypripedium slipper orchid I've ever seen in bloom. The plant arrived with one bloom in moderate bud, and another in a very early bud. A third bloom has already come and gone. The current bloom is the second bud.

Phrag. besseae is originally from Ecuador and Peru. It is normally a bright red color with yellow highlights. It has transparent windows in the sides of the pouch, which presumably aid in keeping insects in the pouch long enough to pollinate the flower.

You can read more about it at:
http://www.goreorchidconservatory.com/SpecPgs/Phrag-besseae.html
http://www.slipperorchids.info/phragdatasheets/besseae/index.html

More photos:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=8682214
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=8682198