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CYPRIPEDIUM ARGUS ees. 7 
CyPRIPEDIUM ARGUS.—(Coriifolia tessellata), Foliis omnibus radicalibus subdistichis oblongo-lanceolatis acutis pallide viridibus maculis satura- 
tioribus_tesselatis, scapo valido elongato glanduloso-pubescente rubro-fusco 1—flore, spatha ovario valde elongato multo breviore, sepalo Supremo late 
ovato-cordato acuminato albo-purpureo striato lateralibus connatis angustis labello suppositis, petalis lineari-oblongis obtusis undulatis margine ciliatis pallide 
viridibus maculis purpureis ocellatis, labelli sacco ostio retuso utrinque angulato, staminodio hippocrepiformis. 
CypRIPEDIUM Arcus, Rchb. f, in Gard. Chron,, May 3, 1873, p. 608 ; id., Dec. 5, 1874, p. 710; Bot, Mag,, t.6175; Floral Mag, n, s, t.220; Belgique 
Hort, 1882, p. 241, t, 9; Williams’ Orch. Man., 6 ed, p. 238. 
Icones analytice. Unum petalum. Sepalum superum et inferum. Staminodium. Labellum antice et a latere, 
Tuose kinds of “Lady's Slipper” which possess tesselated or variegated foliage are always sure to be regarded in a 
favourable light by the lovers of this popular genus of orchids, inasmuch as they are remarkable not only for the beauty 
and grace of their flowers, but, when these have passed away, for the elegance of their foliage, the ornamental character of 
which renders them extremely suitable for decorative purposes. To this much-favoured section belongs the subject of 
our plate—Cypripedium Argus. This species was first introduced to cultivation in 1872 by the well-known traveller, 
Gustav Wallis, who discovered it luxuriating in various parts of Luzon, the largest and most northward of the Philippine 
Islands. Its tufts of oblong-lanceolate, acute leaves, five or six inches or more long, are beautifully marbled with dark 
green, oblong bars on a glaucous-green ground. From their midst springs a dark purple, pubescent scape, bearing at its 
summit, as a rule, a solitary flower remarkable for the charming variety of colour which it presents. The broadly ovate- 
cordate upper sepal is white, often tinged with purple at the sides, and longitudinally traversed by alternately longer and 
shorter green and purple stripes, which become wholly green at the base, where there are frequently many dark purple 
spots. The ciliated, linear-oblong, obtuse petals are washed at the tips with shining purple, passing downwards into a 
greenish-white ground, veined with green and decorated with dark purple, warty, eye-like blotches, the presence of which 
suggested to Prof. Reichenbach the specific name, in allusion to the hundred-eyed monster, Argus. We read in the pages 
of mythology that Juno had a priestess named Io, with whose beauty Jupiter was smitten. This made Juno so jealous 
that she changed Io into a white heifer, and sct the hundred-eyed Argus Panoptes (the “ All-seeing ”) to watch over her, 
At the wish of Jupiter, however, Mercury went to take away the heifer, but first lulled her guardian to sleep with his 
wand and then slew him, hence his title of the “ Slayer of Argus.” Juno, after having transplanted the eyes of Argus to 
the tail of the peacock—one of her favourite birds—avenged herself by sending a gadfly to torment Io, who in her misery 
wandered through Europe and Asia, but at length found rest in Egypt, where touched by the hand of Jupiter, she 
regained her original form. 
There are several more or less distinct varieties of C. Argus in existence, such as nigricans, Boddaertii, and 
others, distinguishable only by colour. The finest and most distinct, however, is that known as Moensii, which 
originated in the collection of Mons. Moens, of Lede, Belgium, whose name it bears. Its flowers are much larger and 
more highly coloured than in the type, and the petals have more numerous warty blotches. 
Being a native of the Philippine Islands, C. Argus naturally requires a warm and moist atmosphere, and may be 
successfully grown in a compost of fibrous peat and sphagnum, either in pots or planted out. By placing several plants 
closely together in broad, shallow pans, an effective display may be obtained by means of the beautifully mottled foliage. 
During growth the plants may receive liberal quantities of water. The supply must be gradually diminished as the cold 
weather approaches, but should never be entirely withheld for any great length of time, as these plants, having no 
pseudo-bulbs, rely on their thick, fleshy roots to absorb sufficient moisture for their wants. In the summer shading is 
necessary, as mottled-leaved Cypripedia are more apt to suffer in appearance from the effects of the sun than their less 
handsomely marked brethren. 
Our plate is from a plant in the collection of Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., Burford Lodge, Dorking, 
