CYPRIPEDIUM CENANTHUM SUPERBUM ras. 7 
A mule raised by Mr. Seden with Messrs. James Veitch and Sons in 1876, It was for a time believed to be the result of a cross between Cypripedium 
Harrisianum and Stonei, but it really descends from Cypripedium insigne Maulei and Harrisianum. Its dark green leaves are rather thick and do not usually 
show strong tessellation. They are broader than those of Cypripedium insigne. The brownish peduncle is covered with dark hairs and generally bears a single 
flower, not so large as that of a good Cypripedium Harrisianum. The ancipitious bract is much shorter than the brown ovary. The rather broad unpair sepal 
is whitish green at the base, with violet nerves, over which stands rows of raised spots up to the apex, just as is seen in Cypripedium insigne Maulei. The 
inferior connate sepal is shorter than the lip, whitish, with mauve nerves, over which, again, stand rows of raised darker spots, but only in the basilar part. 
Petals ligulate acute, ciliate, port wine colour with a violet hue, yellowish white at extreme base, with a few dark s Lip nearly that of Cypripedium 
Harrisianum, port wine colour. Staminode very similiar to that of Cypripedium insigne Maulei, but broader, of coars 
CYPRIPEDIUM CENANTHUM Rchb.f. Gard. Chron., 1878, March 4, No. 114, p. 297! 6. SUPERBUM Rchb, 
improved by its larger spots on unpair sepal. 
s finer and larger in its dimensions, 
Analytical drawings. Staminode and unpair sepal of the typical flower of Cypripedium cenanthum. 
Tue rapid production of a numerous race of hybrid Cypripedia is one of the most remarkable phases in the history of 
Orchid culture in England during the last thirty years. Every season brings its additions to the now long list of hybrid 
Orchids, but no other genus has been so productive of these as Cypripedium. At the present time there are upwards of 
fifty named hybrid Lady’s Slipper Orchids, many of which possess great beauty, while all are interesting. The plant 
illustrated in the accompanying plate is undoubtedly one of the finest yet produced. It was raised by Messrs. Veitch, of 
Chelsea, and is the result of intercrossing C. Harrisianum and C. insigne Maulei, both handsome plants. The hybrid is 
exactly intermediate between the parents. It has the same robust growth as Harrisianum, similarly long leaves, but 
not so distinctly mottled. The flowers are borne well above the foliage, on stems as long as those of C. insigne Maulei, and 
though, perhaps, not more beautiful, are richer in colour than those of either of its parents. The ground colour of the whole 
flower is a deep vinous purple, but this is variegated by lines and spots in an indescribable way, which is truthfully 
shown in the picture. The broad band of pure white which adorns the unpair sepal of C. insigne Maulei is transmitted 
to the hybrid and adds great beauty to the flower. The entire surface of the sepals and pouch shines as if varnished, a 
peculiarity possessed by C. Harrisianum. It is still one of the rarest of the hybrid Cypripedia and is much sought after 
on account of its extreme beauty. This particular cross is the more remarkable inasmuch as C. Harrisianum is itself a 
hybrid, being in fact the first hybrid Cypripedium raised in Europe, and is the result of intercrossing C. barbatum and 
C. villosum. It is obvious, therefore, that hybrid Orchids are not always sterile, and it is moreover extremely doubtful 
if such a beautiful plant as C. cenanthum could have been produced by intercrossing any other Cypripeds. The beautiful 
varieties obtained by intercrossing the hybrid C. Sedeni and the species C .Schlimii afford another instance of the 
superiority of second crosses. The variableness of hybrid Orchids resulting from the same parents and even from the 
same seed vessel is well known, and the variation in Cypripedium hybrids is most marked. The subject of the annexed 
plate is much superior to the original C. cenanthum, though from the same parents, and other instances are C. Leeanum 
superbum, C. selligerum majus and C. tessellatum porphyreum. The cause of such variation is difficult to explain. 
The culture of this Cypripedium is simple, for, like most of the hybrids, it possesses a strong constitution and is a 
free grower. It grows well in a temperature averaging about 60 deg. F. It likes a moist atmosphere and a rich soil, 
—equal parts of good yellow loam and fibrous peat with sufficient sand to keep the whole porous. Like all Cypripeds it 
requires an abundant supply of water at all seasons except in the depth of winter. 
Our plate was drawn from a plate in the collection of R. H. Measures, Esq., The Woodlands, Streatham. 
