Paphiopedilum areeanum is considered by some to be a natural hybrid between P. barbigerum and P. villosum; however, POWO (Kew) has accepted it as a species based on O. Gruss description in 2001.This plant and flowers are intermediate in size and habit between P. barbigerum and P. villosum. The flowers are also a good match to the photo and drawing in the IOSPE and the photo in orchidrooots.com. It does not match the markings in the dorsal sepals in the photos in the OW, but these are inconsistent with the dorsal sepal markings found on the drawing and on both P. barbigerum and P. villosum, but more like the spotting pattern found on P. gratixianum.