AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



423 



Cypripedimu continued. 



Sir John Lubbock, speaking of C. longifolium, says: 

 " The opening into the slipper is small, and partly closed 

 by the stigma and the shield-like body which lies between 

 the two anthers. The result is that the opening into the 

 slipper has a horseshoe-like form, and that bees or other 

 insects which have once entered the slipper have some 

 difficulty in getting out again. While endeavouring to do 

 so, they can hardly fail to come in contact with the stigma, 

 which lies under the shield-like representation of the middle 

 anther. As the margins of the lip are inflected, the easiest 

 exit is at the two ends of the horseshoes, and by one or 

 other of these the insect generally escapes ; in doing which, 

 however, it almost inevitably comes in contact with, and 

 carries off, some of the pollen from the corresponding 

 anther. The pollen of this genus is immersed in a viscid 

 fluid, ~by means of which it adheres first to the insect, 

 and secondly to the stigma, while in most orchids it is 

 the stigma that is viscid." 



Reference has already been made to the remarkable pouch 

 by which the flowers are characterised : it may be added 

 that the petals and sepals are narrow and rather long, ex- 

 tending sometimes into slender tail-like appendages of 

 great length. The blossoms are, in 

 different species, yellowish, pink, or 

 white ; in some instances, they are beau- 

 tifully dotted and lined with pink or 

 green, and in many kinds purple and 

 brown, of various shades, are the pre- 

 dominating colours. 



All amateur plant growers who are 

 about to commence orchid growing, 

 should begin with a few of the commoner species of 

 Lady's Slipper, for the following reasons : they are not 

 expensive, or difficult to cultivate, but thrive admirably 

 amongst ordinary stove plants ; they flower very freely, 

 and continue in perfection a long time. Some blossom 

 in mid- winter, others during the summer months ; and 

 those who wish for fine exhibition subjects cannot have 

 more attractive or telling plants. 



Cultivation. Although Cypripediums are very easily 

 cultivated, they differ from the majority of orchidaceous 

 plants, inasmuch as they do not, in potting, require to be 

 elevated above the rim of the pot, but inserted in the 

 same manner as ordinary plants. The best soil for them 

 is a mixture of two parts good peat, one part chopped 

 sphagnum, one part thoroughly decayed leaf mould, and 

 a portion of sharp silver sand. In potting, an important 

 point for consideration is drainage. This must be thorough 

 and effective, for, as these plants have no pseudo-bulbs 

 to sustain them, they must not be dried off, as many 

 other orchids are, during winter; and, if the drainage is 

 defective, the roots are sure to decay and the leaves 

 shrivel. In the case of the hardier kinds of Lady's 

 Slipper, a large portion of good friable loam, in addition 

 to the above soil, is recommended. It has been frequently 

 said that deciduous species of Cypripedium are very 

 difficult to cultivate; but, with a suitable rather shady 

 position and a little care, they will thrive as well as 

 many other herbaceous plants. 



C. aoanle (stemless).* fl. solitary, large; sepals and petals 

 greenish, shorter than the drooping lip, which is of a beautiful 

 warm rose, blotched with purple. May and June. I. twin, broad, 

 light green, sparingly clothed with short soft downy hairs ; from 

 their centre arises the short scape. Northern United States, 1786. 

 An extremely rare species, of great hardihood. (B. M. 192.) A 

 white-flowered variety also occurs. 



C. Argus (Argus).* fl. white, rose, green, blackish-purple, and 

 purple-brown March and April. I. handsomely tessellated with 

 grey. h. 1ft. Philippines, 1873. Stove. (B. H. 1882, 9.) 



C. arietinnm. Ram's-head.* ft. solitary; sepals and petals 

 greenish-brown ; lip red and whitish-veined. May. Stems leafy, 

 stiff, h. 7in. to lOin. Northern United States and Canada, 1808. 

 A neat little hardy species. (B. M. 1569.) 



C. Ashburtonlee (Lady Ashburton's).* fl., dorsal sepal large, and 

 not unlike C. barbatum ; petals ligulate, white, tinged with green, 

 and veined with purple ; lip pale purple, tinged with yellow, and 



Cypripedium continued. 



slightly blotched with purple. L ligulate dark ereen 

 reticulated. Stove. A nandsome hybrid?" sed fron^C 

 and C. intigne. (G. C. n. s., 1871, 1647.) 

 C. barbatum (bearded).* fl. solitary; dorsal sepal large and 

 broad, the lower portion beautifully flecked witn%or2le 

 upper half pure white ; petals similar in colour, ornamented 'with 

 several tufts of black hairs, which are produced from the purple 

 shining warts bordering the upper edge of the petals ; lip large 

 blackish-purple. Spring and summer. I. distichous, oblong light 

 green, curiously blotched and spotted with irregular markings of 

 very dark green. h. 1ft Malacca, 1838. Stove. This is alout 



Fro. 591. FLOWER OF CYPRIPEDIOM BARBATTTH. 



the most familiar species of the genus. See Fig. 591. (B. M. 

 4234.) There are numerous forms of the species, which vary 

 considerably in the peculiar mottling of the leaves, and in the 

 size and brilliancy of the colouring of their blossoms, so that, to 

 insure a good typical form, intending purchasers should make 

 their selection whilst the plants are in flower. The following are 

 the best varieties : 



C. b. nlgrum (black), fl. larger than those of any other form of 

 the type, and the colour much darker. The foliage is finely 

 variegated. It continues six weeks in flower. 



C. b. super-bum (superb).* Much like the type, but with brightly 

 variegated foliage, flowers more handsome, lip very dark, and the 

 dorsal sepal purer white towards the apex. 



C. b. Veltchianum (Veitch's).* A very fine form, with spotted 

 petals. 



C. blflornm (two-flowered), fl., dorsal sepal very handsome, upper 

 part white ; remaining parts of the blossom purplish-brown ; 

 spikes nearly 1ft. long. 1. elegantly variegated, h. 4m. India. 

 Stove. Allied to C. barbatum, 



C. Boxallii (Boxall's).* fl., upper sepal of a beautiful fresh light 

 green, with a narrow white border, covered with brownish-black 

 spots; inferior sepal oblong-acute, shorter than the lip, light 

 green, with lines of very small reddish-brown spots ; petals 

 broadly cuneate at the base, dilated at the apex, blunt, light 

 green, with a dark, rather broad bluish- violet line from the base of 

 the middle line up to near the apex ; lip chiefly forming a blunt 

 conical sac, with two channelled upright horns and a channelled 

 claw, greenish-yellow, with a dense row of cinnamon spots under 

 the onflce of the sac. Peduncle covered with dark blotches. 

 India, 1877. Stove. (L H. 345.) 



C. Calceolna.* Common Slipper, fl. usually solitary ; sepals and 

 petals narrow, spreading, reddish-brown or maroon colour; 

 labellum pale yellow. I. glabrous, dark green. A. 12in. to 18in. 

 North Asia and Europe (England). Hardy. See Fig. 592. (G. C. 

 n. s., xi 813.) 



C. calurum. See Sclenipedinm calurum. 



C. candidum (white).* /'. , sepals and petals greenish-brown ; lip 

 white. Early summer, h. 12m. North America, 1826. A neat 

 and pretty species. Hardy. (B. M. 5855.) 



C. carlcinum. See Selenlpedlum cajriclnnm. 



