188 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



Winnebago, Webster, Pottawattamie, Hancock, Wayne, Benton, 

 Page, Crawford, Appanoose, Allamakee, Ringgold, and Jeffer- 

 son. This would indicate that the majority of the species are 

 confined to the eastern portion of the state. 



Gypripedium hirsutum Mill. (1768. ) This is our most frequent 

 lady's slipper, once common in rich woods and thickets, usually 

 near water courses throughout our area, now gradually dis- 

 appearing because of the destruction of the timber and too close 

 pasturing. In favored nooks this species may still be found in 

 considerable numbers but such localities are few and remote. 

 Specimens vary from twelve to twenty inches in height and are 

 pubescent or hairy. The sepals are yellowish or greenish, 

 often more or less purplish. Petals more or less twisted. 

 The lip varies from one to two inches in length, pale yellow, 

 with purple lines. Most writers state that this species is 

 inodorous, but this is not true. Many specimens have a pene- 

 trating, sweet, honey-like odor which is very noticeable when 

 a number are placed ia a vasculum for a short time. It has 

 been discovered by Prof. D. T. MacDougal that the glandular 

 hairs contain a poisonous oil which affects the skin in a simi- 

 lar manner to that of toxicodendrol. We have had no poisonous 

 results but it is claimed that one-half the people are immune 

 and we may belong to that class. 



The specimens in our herbarium have been collected from 

 Winneshiek, Fayette, Muscatine, Johnson, and Decatur coun- 

 ties. We have observed the species in Allamakee and Ring- 

 gold counties and have seen specimens from Delaware county 

 in the S. U. I. herbarium. It is reported from Scott (Nagel 

 and Haupt), Story (Hitchcock), and Cherokee and Woodbury 

 (Pammel) counties. Fruiting specimens were collected in 

 Winneshiek aod Appanoose counties. 



A handsome species.— Much of the effort wasted upon foreign 

 house plants could well be given to this native plant and meet 

 with happy returns. C. pubescens Willd, (1805). 



Arthur's Flora of Iowa, 1876, p. 31; Bui. Lab. Nat. Hist., S. 

 U. I., Vol. 3, p. 212; Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, Vol. 3, p. 

 133; Vol. 4, p. 103; Vol. 5, pp. 128 and 165; Vol. 6, p. 197; St. 

 Louis Acad, of Science, Vol. 5, p. 519; Nagel and Haupt in 

 Proc. Dav. Acad, of Sciences, Vol. 2; Bui. Torr. Hot. club, Vol. 

 6, p. 206. 



Cypripedium parviflorum Salisbury (1791). Forms in our col- 

 lection from Winneshiek, Johnson, Decatur, and Crawford 



