Lawrence's Paphiopedilum
CR

Lawrence's Paphiopedilum

Paphiopedilum lawrenceanum

Declining

Photo: (c) Steven Kurniawidjaja, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Steven Kurniawidjaja

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Paphiopedilum lawrenceanum faces severe pressure from illegal collection for the international orchid trade, with wild populations systematically harvested for their distinctive slipper-shaped flowers. Habitat destruction through deforestation and agricultural conversion in its native Borneo range has eliminated numerous known populations. The species' extremely slow growth rate and specialized pollination requirements make recovery from collection pressure particularly difficult.

Threat summary

Habitat

This terrestrial orchid inhabits the understory of lowland and hill dipterocarp forests in Borneo, typically growing on humus-rich soils in shaded conditions. It occurs at elevations from sea level to approximately 1,200 meters, requiring the humid microclimate and filtered light of intact forest ecosystems.

Forest· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionResource & habitat protectionSpecies recoverySpecies reintroductionEx-situ conservationAwareness & communicationsLegislationLinked enterprises & livelihood alternatives

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Lawrence's Paphiopedilum classified as Critically Endangered?
Lawrence's Paphiopedilum is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Paphiopedilum lawrenceanum faces severe pressure from illegal collection for the international orchid trade, with wild populations systematically harvested for their distinctive slipper-shaped flowers. Habitat destruction through deforestation and agricultural conversion in its native Borneo range has eliminated numerous known populations. The species' extremely slow growth rate and specialized pollination requirements make recovery from collection pressure particularly difficult.
Where does Lawrence's Paphiopedilum live?
Lawrence's Paphiopedilum occurs in Belgium, China, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, and United States. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Lawrence's Paphiopedilum?
The main threats to Lawrence's Paphiopedilum are 11.1, 3.2, 5.3, and 5.4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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