Chat. VIII. 



CYPRIPEDIUM. 



227 



large size, and is a compound organ as in all other 

 Orchids. 



The following remarks apply only to the six species 

 which I have examined, namely, G, harhatum, purpu- 

 ratuniy insigne, venustum, piibescens and acaule ; though 

 I have casually looked at some other kinds. The 

 basal part of the labellum is folded round the short 



Fig. 35. 



Cypripedium. 



a. anther. 



a', rudimentary, shield-like anther, 



s. stigma. 



/, labellum. 



A. Flower viewed from above, with 

 the sepals and petals, excepting 

 the labellum, partly cut off". 

 The labellum has been slightly 

 depressed, so that the dorsal 



surface of the stigma is ex- 

 posed ; the edges of the label- 

 lum have thus become a little 

 separated and the toe or ex- 

 tremity stands lower than is 

 natural. 

 Side view of column, with all 

 the sepals and petals removed. 



column, so that its edges nearly meet along the dorsal 

 surface ; and the broad extremity is folded over in a 

 peculiar manner, forming a sort of shoe, which closes 

 up the end of the flower. Hence arises the English 

 name of Ladies'-slipper. The overarching edges of the 

 labellum are inflected or sometimes only suiootli and 



