CYPEIPEDIUM. 9 



of these mountain ranges, in places where there is a small 

 accumulation of decaying vegetable matter. These localities are often 

 steep and precipitous, extremely difficult of access, sometimes fully 

 exposed to the sun's rays, but more frequently in partial shade 

 afforded by projections and overhanging trees. The insular species 

 usually occur at a much lower elevation, not infrequently close to 

 the sea shore, and where the mean average temperature is naturally 

 higher than that in which the mountain species grow. At least 

 three species have been observed to have their homes on the stems 

 and in the forks of the branches of trees,* sometimes growing on 

 the decaying fibrous roots of ferns. 



By far the greater part of the Indian and Malayan Cypripedium region 

 lies within the equatorial zone, and is thence subject to all the climatic 

 phenomena peculiar to that zone ; these are fully stated in the intro- 

 ductory notes to Dendrobiuni. The species found outside this zone are 

 chiefly North Indian, and occur on the Sylhet, Khasia, and Garrow Hills, 

 also in parts of the lower Himalayan range, extending from Sikkim to 

 Eastern Assam, succeeded still further eastwards in Hongkong and on 

 the mountains in southern China by Cypripedium purpuratum ; the 

 climate of this part of the region is also described in our notes on the 

 geographical distribution of Dendrobium, to which the reader is referred.! 



Cultural Note. — No genus or race of orchids that has yet been brought 

 under cultivation has yielded so readily, and we may add, so strikingly, 

 to its influence as the Cypripedia. This is not only apparent in the 

 results of hybridisation, -which will be noticed more particularly after 

 the description of the species, but also in the species themselves, 

 especially in those that have been longest under the cultivator's care. 

 The most obvious effects of cultural influence have been the develop- 

 ment of more robust foliage of a brighter colour, especially in those 

 species with tesselated leaves ; the normally one-flowered scape occasionally 

 becomes two-flowered ; the scapes themselves are more robust, often 

 more elongated, and produce larger flowers, generally attended with some 

 modification in colour. J Doubtless the chief cause of these changes is 

 the more abundant and more regular supply of food material, by which 

 the plants acquire a vigour rarely seen in those imported from their 

 native countries. 



* Cypripedium Lowii, 0. Parishii, and C. villosum. 



t Part III. pp. 7—9. 



+ The variability in the size and colour of the flowers brought about by cultivation has been 

 the most fruitful source of the existing sub- varieties, whose number is becoming practically 

 unlimited. The consequence of this has been the creation of an overwhelming Cypripedium 

 nomenclature, often so confused and perplexing, that it is found impossible to deal with it 

 in its entirety within the limits of the present work. 



