82 THE PLANT WORLD. 



Beneath the primeval pines bordering the swamp, the ram's- 

 head moccasin-flowers {Cypripedinni arietinum) bloom from the 

 middle until about the twenty-fifth of May. These purple flowers 

 are the smallest of the eastern species of Cypripedinni and, being 

 pouch-shaped, in certain positions suggest a ram's head. The 

 apex of the labellum serves as the nose, and the twisting side 

 sepals and petals correspond to the horns of the ram. 



The pink moccasin-flower {Cypripcdium acaiilc) follows at the 

 same date along the damp rocky hillsides near the whip-poor- 

 will's nest. This is the best known of our Cypripcdiinns, and is 

 conspicuous for its two basal leaves — it being the only two-leaved 

 moccasin-flower found in eastern North America. It creeps over 

 the mountain plains where the huckleberry loves to grow and 

 adapts itself, also, to the water-soaked hummocks of the swamp 

 lands. 



Closely following are its sisters — the two yellow moccasin- 

 flowers — Cypripedinni hirsiifum and Cypripedinni parvidornin, 

 which bloom so closely associated as to intergrade and confuse 

 their individuality The homes of these two species are in higher 

 woodlands or in the secret solitudes of the swamp and, despite 

 their being such showy and glaring flowers, they are seldom dis- 

 covered except by the most alert observer. 



Frequently the small moccasin-flower hides among dense colo- 

 nies of fern and brake giving forth the most exquisite perfume 

 of anv of our New England flowers. It is the onlv trulv fragrant 

 Cypripcdium in eastern America, the others having a heavy oil}" 

 pungent odor. The large yellow species often follows the pink 

 moccasin-flowers suiumitward and delights to bloom along rocky 

 ridges beneath the shades of birch, chestnut and beech ; yet the 

 more common haunt is in the heart of the conifer boglands on the 

 higher hummocks of moss, surrounded with cowslips, spring- 

 beauties, violets and ferns. 



About this date, if we closely examine the marshlands, we will 

 observe the dewy-tipped spikes of the showy moccasin-flower 

 {Cypripcdium rcginac) pushing above the rich leaf-mould or 

 sphagnum. This Cypripcdium is a full month behind the others, 

 l)looming about June 20, and is one of the most regal species of 



