1991 



* CYPRIPEDIUM puipuiatuin. 



Purple-stained Lady's Slipper. 



GYNANDRIA DIAXDRIA. 



Nat. ord. Orchidace;e, § CvPRiPEDiEa;. 

 CYPRIPEDIUM. Supra, vol. 10. fol. 788. 



C. purjmratum ; foliis oblongis acutis striatis maculatis basi equitantibus, scapo 

 aphyllo pubescente, sepalo dorsali acuminato ciliato margine revoluto, 

 petalis oblongis subundulatis pubescentibus, stamine sterili luiiato. 



A further addition to the tropical section of the genus 

 Cypripedium, of which C. insigne and venustum constitute 

 tlie other species. It is a native of the Malayan Archipelago, 

 and was imported by Mr. Knight, of the King's Road Nur- 

 sery. The accompanying drawing was made in Nov. 1836, 

 in Messrs. Loddiges' collection. 



Not having had an opportunity of examining personally the 

 only flower that was produced, 1 am unable to say any thing- 

 more of the plant than is shewn in the figure. It is mani- 

 festly distinct from the other f\vo species in its crescent-shaped 

 sterile stamen. Its leaves are most like those of C. venustum, 

 but are more oblong, and far less rigid, besides having a 

 pallid colour, quite uidike that of the species alluded to ; its 

 petals moreover want the long bearded fringe, and the dorsal 

 sepal is convex, not concave. 



( Continued from folio 1986.) 



Whether or not the uenus Maxillaria is well limited as it 

 is at ])resent understood is uncertain ; nor, till a larger num- 

 ber of species shall have been accurately examined, will it 

 be safe to arrive at any conclusion upon the subject. The 

 value of the numerous modifications of the pollen masses 

 and glandular apparatus is, in particular, still to be ascer- 

 tained. But, in the meanwhile, there is one character at 

 least, without which it may be safely asserted that no plant 



* See folio 1534. 

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