4 CYPRTPED1UM. 



capsule.* The inference is thence by no means an unreasonable one that 

 the fertilisation of the flower by insect agency is a rare, or comparatively 

 rare occurrence, and the perpetuation of the species must depend chiefly 

 on new growths from the rhizome by which the plants spread laterally, 

 so far as food materials are at hand to support them. But the stations 

 in which, for the most part, they are found, and where they must have 

 originally sprung from the stray seeds that lodged there, are in the 

 crevices of rocks, and in a few cases on the branches of trees, where 

 there is necessarily an extremely restricted accumulation of vegetable 

 matter ; their spread by this means is thence reduced to the narrowest 

 limits. 

 The chief distinctions between Cypripedium and the genera of 

 other tribes consist — in the presence of three stigmas, but which 

 are confluent and have the aspect of being but one; f i n the 

 rostelluin being so modified in form, that by some eminent 

 naturalists it has been thought to be altogether absent ; in the 

 presence of two anthers, which, however, belong to the inner whorl 

 of three, instead of the single anther of the outer whorl in other 

 orchids, which is here represented by a barren staminodium, a 

 shield-like projecting body generally notched or hollowed out on 

 its front margin, but sometimes with a small angular projection 

 there. + Far more apparent to the observer even than these 

 important characters, is the prominent pouched labellum, which 

 although not peculiar to the genus, is here more decidedly slipper- 

 shaped than in any other. The conspicuous dorsal or upper sepal and 

 the spreading narrow petals, sometimes greatly elongated, are note- 

 worthy features of the flower of a Cypripedium, as is also the 

 remarkable combination of many and diverse tints with which the 

 flowers of most of the species are adorned. The flowers too retain 

 their freshness for a longer period than those of any other orchids, 

 except, perhaps, some of the Yandas. 



The circumscription of the genus, as it is understood by horticulturists, 

 has been somewhat modified within the last few years ; in the first 

 instance by Reichenbach, who separated the South American species 

 from Cypripedium on account of their having a three-celled ovary (the 



* Cypripedium barbatum, ft Stonci, and ft villosum are the only Indian species that we can 

 remember receiving with capsules, and these but very few in number, especially with the 

 two last named. 



t If the stigmatic plate of almost any Cypripedium be examined, its tripartite character will 

 be seen to be indicated by the presence of three sunk lines diverging from the centre at an 

 angle of 120°. 



X The Homology of orchid flowers is discussed in another place. 



