ORCHIDACE^. 



38.-i CYPRIPEniDM. 



2. L. convallarioi'des. A^utt. Epipactis. Swtz. 



Stem 2-\ea.ved, the leaves opposite, roundish-ovate ; raceme few-flowered, 

 loose, pubescent; 5e/>aZs ovate-lanceolate ; h';; oblong, 2-toothed at base, with 

 2 roundish lobes and an intermediate minute one at the apex ; column elongat- 

 ed. Root fibrous. Stem very slender, 5 — 10 inches high, sheathed with a 

 few bracts bearing the 2 leaves near the middle. Leaves near an inch long, 

 I as wide. Flowers small, the broad, obcordate lip twice as long as the 

 sepals. May. 



§ § § § Lateral anthers fertile ; the middle one sterile and petaloid. 

 15. CYPRIPE'DIUM. 

 The 2 lower sepals united into I segment, or rarely, dis- 

 tinct; lip ventricose, inflated, saccate, obtuse; column 

 terminated by a petaloid lobe (barren stamen). 



Gr. KvTTQii, Venus, 7ro}i,ov, a slipper; from the slipper-like form of the lip. 

 Flowers large, very showy, distinguished for the large, inflated lower petal 

 or lip. 



1. C. ACAu'le. ^it. C. humile. Sictz. 

 Scape leafless, 1-flowered ; leaves 2, radical, elliptic-oblong, rather acute ; 



lohe of the column roundish-rhomboidal, acuminate, deflexed ; pcta/s lanceo- 

 late ; lip longer than the petals, cleft before. A beautiful plant, in dark woods. 

 Leaves large, plaited and downy. Scape 10—14 inches high, with a single 

 lanceolate bract at the base of the large, solitary flower. Sepals H :"eh long, 

 the two lower completely united into a broad lanceolate one beneath the lip. 

 Petals lateral, wavy. Lip 2 inches long, 1 wide, purple, forming the most 

 showy part of the flower. May, June. Jlcaulescent Ladies -Slipper. 



2. C. parviflo'rum. Willd. C. pubescens. Swtz. 

 Stem leafy ; leave.? broad-lanceolate, acuminate ; Inhe. of the column triangular- 

 oblong, acute ; sepals ovale, oblong, acuminate ; petalslong, Imear, contorted ; 

 lip shorter than the petals, compressed. Woods and meadows. Stems usu- 

 ally several from the same root, about a foot high. Leaves 3— G inches long, 

 2 — 3 wide, nerved, alternate, clasping, pubescent. Flower mostly solitary. 

 Segments 4, greenish, with purple stripes and spots, the lower one bifid, 

 composed of 2 united sepals, the 2 lateral ones 2—3 inches long, i inch wide, 

 waved and twisted. Lip a large, inflated sac, bright yellow, spotted inside, 

 with a roundish aperture above. May, June. Yellow Ladies' -Slipper. 



/i. pubescens ; Zeat;c5 lanceolate ; lobe of the column ohiuse. The flowers 

 somewhat smaller. Meriden, N. H. 



3. C. specta'bile. 



Stem leafy ; leaves ovate-lanceolate, acuminate ; lobe of the cohimn elliptic- 

 cordate, obtuse ; sepals broad-ovate, obtuse ; lip longer than the petals, cleft 

 before. A tall, superb species found in swamps. Lebanon, N. H. Stem 

 thick, 2 feet or more high, hairy. Leaves 6 — 10 inches long, 2—4 wide, 

 nerved, plaited, hairy. Flowers 2—3 on each plant, very large. Lip white, 

 striped with purple, 2 inches long, 1^ broad ; upper segment largest, lower 

 one smaller, composed of 2 sepals completely united. Jl. Tall Ladies' -Slipper. 



4. C. ARIETi'num. jlit. Arietinum Americanum. Beck. 

 Stemleafy; Zeares elliptical, striate-nerved; se^^a/s 3, distinct (the 2 lower 



not united), linear-lanceolate, the upper oblong-ovate, acuminate ; 2 lateral 

 petals linear ; lip as long as the petal, saccate, obconic. In damp woods, Me. 

 On Ascutney Ml., Vt. Dr. Phelps. Stems usually clustered, flexuous, 8 — 12 



