ABNORMAL CYPRIPEDIUM FLOWERS. 47 
the little bract s* (fig. 5), which in its turn subtends a tiny flower- 
bud 4.. 
Passing on to the flower itself, the posterior or adaxial sepal 
has been recognized as the upper constituent of the H. The 
two other sepals lie in their proper positions, and there are three 
petalline structures alternating with them. Two of these are 
labelliform, and are inserted right and left of the reduced and 
modified sepal. The third petal is flat and ovate-lanceolate. 
This is in the position of the labellum of a normal Cypripedium 
flower. The two labellums similarly represent the two flat petals 
of a normal flower. This appears to be the simplest inter- 
pretation. The subjoined woodcut of the floral diagram of our 
flower shows the parts arranged so as to facilitate comparison 
Floral diagram of Cypripedium Sedeni (abnormal specimen). 
with the diagram of a normal flower. In the andreecium we find 
the two stamens of the outer whorl to be absent, whilst the 
anterior (and median) stamen of the inner whorl is developed. 
Finally, in the ovary the median posterior carpel is wanting. The 
ovary is thus bi-carpellary. Nevertheless the vascular bundle 
corresponding to the missing carpel can still be traced; so that 
we cannot regard this carpel as totally suppressed. 
We have in support of the view that the labellum has been 
simplified and the lateral petals transformed into labella, the 
fact that the median stamen of the inner whorl, superposed to 
the median petal, is present and fertile; while in most cases when 
the median petal has the form of a labellum it is absent 
altogether. Masters observes * that the absence of this stamen 
* Journ. Linn. Soc., Bot. vol. xxii. p. 402. 
