34 WILD, OR NATIVE FLOWERS, 



Lady's Slippers — Moccasin Flowers. 



Among the many rare and beautiful flowers that adorn our native 

 woods and wilds, few, if any, can compare wdth the lovely plants 

 belonging to the Orchis family. Where all are so Worthy of notice it 

 was difficult to make a choice ; happily there is no rivalry to contend 

 with in the case of our Artist's preferences, ^\'e will, however, first 

 treat of the Cypripediums or Lady's Slippers, better known by the 

 name of Moccasin-Flowers, a name common in this country to all the 

 species. The plants of this family are remarkable, alike for the singular 

 beauty of their flowers, and the peculiar arrangement of the internal 

 organs. In the Linna^an classification they were included, in common 

 with all the Orchids, among the Gynandria. 



Whether we regard these charming flowers for the singularity of 

 their form, the exc^uisite texture of their tissues, or the delicate blending 

 of their colours, we must acknowledge them to be altogether lovely and 

 worthj' of our admiration. 



One of the rarest, and at the same time most beautiful and curious 

 is the 



Ram's-head Orchis — Cypripediuin arietiiium (R-Br.) 



(PLATE VII.) 



which has smooth glaucous green leaves, and small purplish flowers 

 bearing a close resemblance to a ram's head with the horns and ears 

 and a tuft of wool on the top of the head. It is seldom over six inches 

 in height, and grows in cold peat bogs, and flowers in July ; associated 

 with it we find our most gorgeous representative of the family, the 



Showv Lai)v"s Slipper or Pink Flowered Moccasin Plant — 

 Cypripedhim spectabih (Swartz). 



It grows chiefly in tamarack swamps, and near forest creeks, where, 

 in groups of several stem.s, it appears, showing its pure blossoms among 

 the rank and coarser herbage. The stem rises to the height of from i8 

 inches to two feet. The leaves, which are large, ovate, many nerved 

 and plaited, sheathing at the base, clothe the fleshy stem, which 

 terminates in a single sharp-pointed bract above the flower. The 

 flowers are terminal and generally solitary, although old and strong 

 plants will occasionally bear two or even three blossoms on one stem. 

 The unfolded buds of this species are most beautiful, having the 

 appearance of slightly flattened globes of delicately-tinted rice-pa]ier. 



The large sac-like inflated lip is slightly depressed in front, tinged 

 with rosy jjink, and striped. The pale thin jjctals and sepals, two of 

 each, arc whitish at first, but turn brown when the flower is more 



