[ 35 ] 
CYPRIPEDIUM TAUTZIANUM ees. 7 
This is a mule raised by Mr, Seden, whose mental property is great, and who has made so numerous observations about crossing and raising orchids. 
It is stated to have originated from Cypripedium niveum Rchb. f. and C. barbatum Lindl. It is said to have the dwarf habit and the comparatively narrow 
leaves of C. niveum. Those leaves of the genuine type I have never seen. “Leaves 4—5 inches long by 1 in breadth, of great substance, dark olive green, 
showing a very faint mottling. The young growths come first very pale in colour, the leaves being flushed and margined with white, which disappears as the 
leaves get mature and grow darker with age.” These remarks I have obtained from Mr. F. G. Tautz himself. Inflorescence one or two flowered. Peduncle 
dark brownish India purple. Ovary dark, with short hairs. The elliptical acute median sepal is white with very dark purple veins, some of which have 
veinlets radiating outside, which look remarkably neat. There are two green veins on each side of the midrib. The connate lateral sépals form a broad, wide 
body, nearly as long as the lip, veined on the same plan. Petals spreading, ligulate, acute, ciliate on the borders, with seven dark purple nerves, the three 
looking towards the side sepals, green at base, all covered with much darker purple spots. Lip nearly that of Cypripedium barbatum, very fine dark purple, 
full of dark warts on the involved side lacinie, pallid underneath towards the base. Staminode transverse, with one tooth cach side, and a very small 
one on mid. 
CyPRIPEDIUM TAUTZIANUM Rchb. f. in Gard, Chron. Noy. 27, 1886, p. 681! This fine novelty was dedicated to Mr. F. G. Tautz, Studley House, 
Goldhawk Road, Shepherds Bush, London, W., in due regard of the uncommon enthusiasm for, and love of, orchids, that has suddenly given Mr. F. G. Tautz 
the reputation of being one of our most zealous orchidists, 
A fresh issue of seedlings has appeared at Mr. W. Bull’s. The plants are smaller and the flowers too, Leaves pale garlic green, with numerous 
angulate dark green markings. Odd sepal much shorter, without the green median nerves of the typical plant. Petals broader than in type. It was called 
Cypripedium Tautzianum lepidum x Rchb, f. in Gard. Chron. 1888, Dec. 29, p. 756! 1. G. Rehb. f. 
Icones analytice. Front view of typical flower, enlarged one-third. Connate sepal. Lip. 
Tuts lovely Cypriped is the result of a cross between C. niveum and C. barbatum, and was raised by Messrs. 
Veitch and Sons, of Chelsea, in whose nursery it first flowered in 1887. It has been named Cypripedium Tautzianum, 
in compliment to Mr. F. G. Tautz, of Studley House, Goldhawk Road, London, and is one of the most distinct of its 
class we have ever seen. It is characterised by a rich suffusion of wine-purple colouring, contrasted by white and green 
margins, veins, and interspaces, the lip being of a darker purple hue. A variety of it is being sent out by Mr. Bull, of 
Chelsea, to which Prof. Reichenbach has given the name of C. Tautzianum lepidum. This is more-showy than the 
original form, and differs from it also in its shape, which more nearly resembles that of C. niveum. 
The hybridisation of this interesting genus is a most fascinating study, and we cannot too strongly recommend 
amateurs to take it up, feeling assured that the pleasure to be derived from it will amply repay them for the small 
amount of trouble entailed. Care should be taken, however, to choose strong and finely formed parent flowers, and 
some of our best and keenest hybridists are specially working on the broad petalled species, such as C. niveum, 
bellatulum and Godefroy. The bright colouring, and the broad, tound-shaped flowers of these species give the form 
and colour required by such as hirsutissimum, barbatum, villosum, Boxallii, ete. Again, extraordinary hybrids may be 
raised by crossing such species as Sanderianum and Parishi with the broad petalled forms above mentioned. To Mr. 
Narris, a surgeon of Exeter, is due the origin of hybridising orchids. He suggested the idea to Mr. John Dominy, whose 
first hybrid was appropriately named Cypripedium Harrisianum in compliment to Mr. Harris. This was thirty years 
ago, and the good work then begun by Mr. Dominy has since been continued by many others, both in this country and 
on the Continent. When Mr. Harris first suggested the idea of hybridising orchids, he little dreamt what prices would 
be realised by the product of such hybridisation. We have in mind at the peo moment the hundred guinea and 
higher prices paid for such hybrids as C. Morganiz, Saundersianum, Pitcherianum, Tautzianum, Marshallianum, and 
others. Only recently, Mons. Jules de Cock, of Ghent, purchased for twenty-four shillings a plant in bud, supposed to 
