Paphiopedilum rothschildianum
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Paphiopedilum rothschildianum faces severe pressure from illegal collection for the international orchid trade, with individual plants commanding extremely high prices among collectors. The species' restricted range on Mount Kinabalu makes entire populations vulnerable to over-harvesting, while habitat degradation from tourism infrastructure and climate change further threatens the remaining wild populations.
Habitat
This terrestrial orchid is endemic to the ultramafic soils of Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, growing in montane forest clearings and along forest edges at elevations between 500-1,200 meters. The species requires the specific mineral-rich, well-draining soils derived from serpentine rock formations found only in this limited geographic area.
