ORCHIDS 135 



cannot possibly be self-fertilised, and no insect can 

 enter save by the slit in the pouch. The upper 

 openings are defended by the column, and a shield- 

 like prolongation of it — a modified and sterile an- 

 ther, lying like a shield or valve over the upper 

 part of the pouch, as seen in the sketches. 



Notice that the strongest colour and most pro- 

 nounced guide lines occur at the entrance of the 

 pouch, while the harmonious and subdued colours 

 are reserved for the graceful petals which droop 

 and float and twist above and around like a quaint 

 head-dress. 



The pollen of the Cypripedium is a pulpy mass, 

 which adheres like a plaster to the back of the bee; 

 the stigma bears teeth like a comb, to scrape off 

 what it can of the pollen which a bee may have 

 brought from another flower. 



All the other Cypripediums have their pouches 

 more inflated and exhibit a circular opening with 

 incurved edges in place of the long, concealed slit 

 of the acaule. 



Showy Lady's Slipper — Cypripedium hirsutum 

 June-July 



This is the most stately and gorgeous of them 

 all. Standing three feet high, with two, three, or 

 four blossoms on a stem, it bears floating streamers 



