'56 CTPRIFEDIUM. 



reflexed margins of the upper sepal, it is very variable in colour, 

 some of the forms approaching in this respect so near the species 

 as to be distinguishable from it only by the characters we have 

 mentioned. 



Gypripedium villosum has proved to be one of the most potent of 

 hybridising agents, and is one parent of many of the finest forms yet 

 raised. Its specific name villosum, "shaggy," refers to the very 

 hairy peduncle, ovary, and bract; its flowering season, usually a 

 prolonged one, lasts from December to March. 



SELENIPEDIA. 



The chief character that distinguishes the South American from the 

 Asiatic Cypripedes, that is to say, the three-celled ovary with axile 

 placentation, has been already pointed out. Besides this, there are 

 some minor differences observable in the vegetative organs, in the 

 inflorescence, and in the form of certain parts of the flower. The 

 most obvious of these may be thus summarised : — 



The rhizome is sometimes creeping (Gypripedium caricinum, 0. 

 Klotzschianum). The leaves are of a uniform bright green, narrowly 

 ligulate, linear, sedge-like in the two species named, and much 

 longer than in Euctpripedium ; they are complicate at the base, 

 more or less acute at the apex, have a sunk mid-line above and a 

 prominent keel beneath. 



The scapes are also usually much longer than in Euctpripedium ; they 

 are jointed below, few- or many-flowered above ; the spathaceOus bracts, 

 both cauline and floral, are large and conspicuous, and are of lanceolate 

 acuminate form. 



The flowers expand successively along the rachis and are rarely all 

 open at one time. The upper sepal is much longer than broad ; the 

 connate lower sepals are together larger than the upper one ; the petals 

 are bearded at the base, frequently pendulous and excessively elongated. 

 The staminode is fringed along the back edge with blackish purple 

 hairs.* 



About ten species are known to be genuine, of which six inhabit the 

 Cordilleras of western South America, from Bolivia to Chiriqui in 

 Central America, at elevations of 3,000 — 5,000 feet; three occur 

 on the mountains of British Guiana and one on the Organ Mountains, 

 near Rio de Janeiro. The localities indicated on the accompanying 



Cypripcdium Chica and C. palmifolium do not conform to all the above characters, and 

 constitute the sub-section Folioscc of Benthaui and Hooker. 



