Growth and Fertilisation of Cypripedium Calceolus. 357 



On the Growth and Fertilisation of Cypripedium Calceolus. 

 By A. D. Webster, Llaudegai, Penrbyn. 



(KeadStli July 18S6.) 



The following notes have been made at various times as 

 opportunities offered over a period of several years, but 

 principally during the present season, as exceptional 

 opportunities were afforded me of studying the plant in a 

 semi-wild state. Nearly two dozen flowers were produced 

 by established, out-door specimens of this Cypripedium 

 and its near American ally C. parviflorum (some botanists 

 consider the latter a continental variety of G. Calceolus; 

 and as regards structure, mode of growth, and time of 

 flowering, the two are nearly identical). Two strong, 

 healthy plants that had been established for several years 

 were marked off for investigation as regards time of appear- 

 ing, rate of growth, period of flowering, and method of 

 fertilisation ; and the following diary, kept from the time 

 the buds appeared above the ground until the flowers had 

 withered away, may be useful in following out the life 

 history of this singularly interesting plant. The bud, 

 remarkably plump and healthy looking, appeared above 

 ground on 19th April 1886. 



On 26th April it w^as 2| inches high, the weather 

 during that time being very favourable for growth, with 

 warm, sunny showers. On 3rd May the height v/as 

 4f inches, and the leaves were beginning to open out from 

 the stem. On 10th May it was 8 inches high, and thus 

 showed a growth of 3^ inches in six days. 



At this stage the lower leaves were almost perfectly 

 developed and the flower bud visible. On 17th May the 

 height was 9 inches, the leaves being fully developed, and 

 the flower bud plainly visible. On 24th May the full 

 height 12^ inches was attained, at which period the flower 

 was fully developed and half open. This was the greatest rate 

 of growth during any week, although only one-quarter inch 

 more than during the six days from 3rd May to 10th May. 

 During the five weeks from 19th April, when the bud first 

 appeared, until 24th May, when the plant and flower was 

 fully developed, the weather was satisfactory for growth. 



