54 THE WOODLANDS ORCHIDS 



leaves encircle each pot so closely that they form a bank 

 of foliage without a gap all round. But besides this house 

 we have one much larger elsewhere, containing no less than 

 2500 examples of the same species. If no two flowers of an 

 orchid on the same plant be absolutely similar, as experts 

 declare — and I have often proved the rule — one may fancy 

 the sum of variation among three thousand. Individually, 

 however, it is so minute in the bulk of Cypripedium insigne 

 that a careless observer sees no difference among a hundred 

 blooms. I note some of the prominent exceptions. 



Clarissimum. — Large, all white, except a greenish tinge at 

 base of the dorsal, and the broad yellow shield of the column. 



Laura Kimball^ on the other hand, is all ochreous yellow, 

 save the handsome white crown of the dorsal and a narrow 

 white margin descending from it. 



Statterianum is much like this, but spotted in the usual way. 



Bohnhoffianum has a dorsal of curious shape. The crest 

 rises sharply between square shoulders which fold over, 

 displaying the reverse. It has no spots, but at the base is 

 a chestnut blotch, changing to vivid green, which again 

 vanishes abruptly, leaving a broad white margin. Vivid 

 green also are the petals, with brown lines ; the slipper paler. 

 This example is unique. 



Macfarlanei is all yellowish green, with a white crest. 



Amesiae. — The dorsal has a broad white outline and a 

 drooping crest. To white succeeds a brilliant green, and to 

 that, in the middle, bright chestnut. Chestnut lines also, 

 and dots, mount upward. The green petals are similarly 

 lined, and the slipper is greenish, tinged with chestnut. 



Longisepalum is flesh-colour, with a greenish tinge and 

 pink spots on the very long dorsal. The pink spots change 

 to lines upon the petals. Slipper ruddy green. 



Dimmockianum. — The broad and handsome dorsal is 

 green, with white margin. A red stain at the base is 



