SELENIPEDIUM 



wrote Selenipedium). On-hiditc<'<i . The genus Seleni- 

 pedium comprises the South American Cypripediums. 

 Technically it is separated from the genus Cypripe- 

 dium on account of the three-locnled ovary. Aside from 

 this character the flowers resemble those of Cypripe- 

 dium, but the inflorescence is quite distinct. The 

 scapes of Cypripedium bear a single flower (rarely 2 or 

 more), while those of Selenipedium bear several flowers 

 and often become paniculately branched. In general 

 habit the Selenipediums are more robust and luxuriant. 

 The Ivs. are crowded in dense tufts on short, creeping 

 rhizomes. As in many orchid genera, the species of 

 Selenipedium are remarkable for the number of color 

 variations of their flowers. There are many varieties 

 that form connecting links between species, thus mak- 

 ing the genus a very difficult one for satisfactory de- 

 scription. It is hoped that the following account, how- 

 ever, will serve to distinguish the leading types. 



This genus, like the true Cypripediums, has been a 

 favorite one with hybridizers. Some of the best known 

 species, as S. Sedeni and others, are the products of 

 crosses. The total number of hybrids far exceeds the 

 number of original species. A part of the genera Cy- 

 pripedium and Selenipedium has been separated by 

 some botanists as a distinct genus, Paphiopedilum, 

 which is now sometimes found in horticultural writings. 



For culture, see Cypripedium. 



HEINRICH HASSELBKING. 



All Selenipediums enjoy plenty of heat and moisture 

 in the growing season, March to November (65-90). 

 Give good drainage. Use chopped sphagnum with 

 broken clinkers from the furnace, and the addition of a 

 little leaf-mold, raising the material as high above the 

 rim of the pot as possible. This material is especially 

 to be recommended for the young and divided plants. 

 Give slight shade, and grow on raised benches near the 

 glass. Water sparingly until growth begins. The four 

 species, S. Dominianum, S. Sedeni, S. Schlimii and 

 S. Sargentiannm, should not be overpotted. Fill pots 

 three-fourths full of drainage, then place a thin layer 

 of coarse fern root, which will fill pot to level of the 

 rim. Place the plant on top and then fill 2% to 3 in. on 

 top with chopped sphagnum and leaf -mold mixed with 

 coarse sand or pulverized coal clinkers. Keep the moss 

 in a growing condition. \y M> MATHEWS. 



INDEX. 

 (Including some names advertised under Cypripedium.) 



SELKXlIT.hir.M 



1651 



A. Petals ovate to lanceolate, 



jilitne or scarcely twisted. 

 H. Fix. white <>r pink ......... 



BB. Fls. purple and white ...... 



AA. Petals linear-oblong 

 AAA. Petals lanceolate-caudate 



AAAA. Petals linear-caudate 

 B. Lvs. broadly linear 



BB. Lrs. narrowly linear 



Schlimii 



Sedeni 



Weidlichianum 



porphyreum 



cardinale 



Ainsworthii 



vittatum 



Sargentianum 



Lindleyanum 



longifolium 



albo-purpureum 



ealurum 



Schrcederse 



caudatum 



grande 



Dominianum 



Boissierianum 



Klotzschianum 



caricinum 



1. Schlimii, Linden (Cypriji>,n,i,,, Srhlimil. Lii 

 Fig. '_ ) :f(ili. Lvs. 4-4i, ligulatc. Icailn-ry, sharp-pointed, 

 !M2 in. high . si-ape Imiijcr than the h's .. hirsute, often 

 branched, 'J-h-fld. : sepals less than I in. .lout.', nvate- 

 obtuse, the lower a little larger than the upper ami ci,n- 

 cave, white or spotted with crimson on the inner side; 



2306. Selenipedium Schlimii (X %) 



petals like the sepals; labellum an elliptic bag with a 

 contracted opening, white with a large crimson blotch 

 in front; staminodium yellow. Late summer. Colombia. 

 B.M. 5614. F.S. 18:1917.-Var. albifldrum, Linden. 

 Fls. white, except the yellow staminodium and a suffused 

 blotch on the labellum. I.H. 21:183. Vars. giganteum 

 and superbum are also advertised. 



2. Sedeni, Hort. Fig. 2307. Lvs. numerous, crowded, 

 12-18 in. long, tapering to a point: scapes 12-18 in. 

 high, about 4-fld. but often sending out secondary' flow- 

 ering branches from the axils of the bracts after the 

 first fls. have fallen: fls. 3%-4 in. across the petals; 

 lower sepal oval, greenish white, upper sepal oblniit;. 

 acute, with faint purplish green veins; petals lanceo- 

 late, twisted, purple shading to greenish white at the 

 base; labellum rich crimson-purple shading to paler 

 purple behind, spotted inside.-Garden hybrid between 

 S. longifolium and S. Schlimii. \ very luxuriant free- 

 flowering plant. F.M.I S7:2(.M; : lS7K:3()-_>. K.H. Ih7!:470. 

 Var. candidulum, Reichb. f. Sepals white: petals white 

 tinged with rose; labellum darker rose. A hybrid be- 

 tween S. longifolium and N. S>-l,liinii, var. albifloriim. 

 The following names are also in the trade: grandiflb- 

 rum, sanguineum, superbum. 



3. Weidlichianum, Hort. A garden hybrid between 

 S. Hartwegii and >'. S<-l,lhnii. It hardly differs from 

 S. Sedeni'. G.M. 34:274 (as CypripfHnm HYidfiwf- 

 anum). 



4. porphyreum, Reichb. f. (Cypripedium porphyreum, 

 Reichb. f.). Lvs. broadly strap-shaped, acute, about 

 1 ft. long: fls. mostly purple, resembling those of S. 

 Sedeni, but without protuberances on the open sides of 

 the lip. The sepals and petals are oblong and more 

 acuminate. Garden hybrid between S. Rcezlii and S. 

 Schlimii. 



-, cardinale, Reichb. f. (Cypripldium cardinAle, 

 Reichb. f.). Lvs. long, straight: dorsal sepal blush- 



