V. A DESCRIPTION OF CYPRIPEDIUM PASSERIXUM 

 By Otto E. Jennings. 



(Plate LIX.) 



Cypripedium passeriniim was originally described by Richardson 

 from specimens collected in northern Canada by the Sir John Franklin 

 Expedition, 1819 to 1822. (Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of 

 the Polar Sea, in the Years 1819, 20, 21, and 22, by John Franklin, 

 p. 762, second edition.) 



A number of good herbarium specimens of this rare Cypripedium 

 were collected in flower near Moose Factory, northwestern Ontario, 

 July 2-3, igo8, by Mr. M. A. Carriker, Jr., and in view of the fact 

 that this species is as yet but sparsely represented in American her- 

 baria, and that the published descriptions and figures are somewhat 

 at variance with respect to certain characters, it seems desirable to 

 here present a detailed description, with figures. That our material 

 is quite typical of the species as described by Richardson is evidenced 

 by the closeness with which the original description applies to our 

 specimens and it may be further mentioned that the Sir John Franklin 

 Expedition made collections at Moose Factory, the locality at which 

 our specimens were obtained. 



Description of Species. 

 Cypripedium passerinum Richardson. Plants 2-3.5 dm. high, 

 erect from an ascending base, which often consists of the basal portion 

 of the stems of the two previous years. Stems leafy, rather densely 

 puberulent, bearing from 3 to 5 leaves and a leaf-like floral bract of 

 variable size, the lower part of the stem being enveloped in from 2 to 

 4 sheathing, more or less bract-like, leaves. Leaves 7-15 cm. long, 

 2.5-4 cm. wide, lanceolate-ovate, with 5 to 7 prominent nerves, leaf- 

 surfaces sparsely puberulent, apex acute, base gradually narrowed 

 and completely sheathing the stem. Floral bract similar to the 

 leaves, varying from 3-8 cm. long, lanceolate-ovate, acute to acumi- 

 nate, narrowed to a sheathing base. Flower one, terminal, erect, 

 general color pale yellow with the lip lined and spotted with violet- 



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