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SELENIPEDIUM (HYBRIDUM) GRANDE ress. ¢ 
A hybrid obtained from Selenipedium Roezlii, Rchb. f., fertilised with the pollen of S. caudatum, Rchb.f. It has the vigorous habit of the mother 
plant ; the sword-shaped leaves frequently measure from 24 to 30 inches long, and the scapes attain a yard in height. The upper sepal is yellowish white, 
with yellowish-green veins ; the lower one broader and with paler veins. The petals are from 12 to 15 inches long, the basilar portion ycllowish with green 
veins, the remainder of a bright rosy-pink shade. The lip is pale greenish, toned with brown in front, paler behind ; the infolded lobes ivory-white, spotted 
with deep rose. Staminode pale yellow, fringed with blackish hairs. 
SELENIPEDIUM (hybridum) GRANDE, Rchb. f. in Gard. Chron., Oct. 14, 1882, p. 488 (in note); Desbois Monogr. Cypriped., p. 147, with fig.; Rolfe 
in Lindenia, VL, p. 7, t. 242. 
CYPRIPEDIUM (hybridum) GRANDE, Rchb. f. in Gard. Chron., Apr. 9, 1881, p. 462 ; id. Oct. 14, 1882, p. 488 ; Berlin Gart. Zeit., 1884, pp. 497, 498, 
fig. 146 ; Veitch Man. Orch. PI, pt. 4, p. 104, with fig, 
This fine hybrid was raised by Mr. Seden in the establishment of Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, of Chelsea. The cross was effected in 1875, and the 
plant flowered for the first time in 1881. It is, perhaps, the most robust Selenipedium hybrid known. The flowers are tolerably intermediate in shape, 
though the colour, especially of the petals, more nearly approaches that of the mother plant, of which it has also quite the habit. It is generally known as 
Cypripedium grande in gardens, but I believe this Tropical American group should retain the generic name Sclenipedium, on account of the three-celled 
ovary with axile placentation. In this respect it exactly resembles Apostasia and Neuwiedia—two Asiatic genera very rarely seen in cultivation. These 
three genera may probably be regarded as retaining the ovarian character of an ancestral condition of the order. Nothing of this kind is seen in Cypri- 
pedium proper, which has a one-celled ovary with parietal placentation, as in the remainder of the order. Selenipedium is considered a distinct genus in the 
Genera Plantarum, and the name, which is adopted by Desbois in his J eraphie des Cypripedium, Sel et Uropedium, may well be also adopted 
generally in gardens, as the group is a thoroughly natural one and easily recognised. R.A. Rolfe. 
Icones analytica, Labellum fronte visum. Staminodium. Ovarii sectio transversa. 
Tuts well-known hybrid is of stately habit and very free growing. It is now thoroughly represented in collections on 
account of its ample, shining, and handsome foliage and free-blooming qualities. After being raised it soon became a 
general favourite ;—even those amateurs whose tastes do not incline them to cultivate the genus extensively, cannot 
resist the charm of this noble plant, with its gigantic, many-flowered inflorescences, the individual flowers of which are 
very persistent, and are developed from the apex of the raceme for at least three months from their commencement to 
bloom. 
The name “grande” is a singularly appropriate one. The late Prof. Dr. H. G. Reichenbach was most happy in 
the application of names, thoroughly suited and descriptive of the plants he described. Cypripedium grande was raised 
by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, London, and is one of their best hybrids. It was circulated for commerce in 
1881, and described by Prof. Reichenbach in the Gardeners’ Chronicle of April 9 of that year as follows :—“ A cross 
between S. Roezlii and S. caudatum. Since it is so exceedingly vigorous and quick growing (the fertilisation took place 
in 1875), there can be no doubt it is descended, not from genuine caudatum, but from the so-called caudatum roseum 
(Warscewiczii, Rchb. f.), which is so easily understood by its far stronger peduncle, far larger shining flowers, with a 
very dark, much wider lip, and its dark broad leaves. Our novelty has even broader and darker leaves still. The 
peduncle is very strong, and though when first flowering it bore only one flower, there can be no doubt of its improve- 
ment next year. We might call the grand flower an enlarged edition of S. Nartwegii, had it not both the sepals of 
oblong lanceolate shape, surpassing the lip—a feature by which it differs from all the group of Hartwegii. The colours 
are those of the species of that group. There are few hybrids which have given me so much pleasure as this, since I 
expect it must develop by-and-bye into an even more superb thing, justifying its name.” 
The characters of each parent are well brought out in the offspring, foliage and blossom being as nearly as 
possible intermediate. It must not be inferred that this hybrid is as beautiful as the pollen parent S. caudatum, but it 
has the great merit of being a very free grower, and also of being immensely superior to the seed parent, S. Roezlii. 
Its nearest affinity is with the beautiful S. nitidissimum, raised by Norman C. Cookson, Esq. 
The soil best suited for its cultivation is yellow loam, peat, and a small quantity of sphagnum moss, with a little 
charcoal or bones mixed. It should be grown in the warm house, and receive an abundance of water when growing. 
S. Roezlii (the female parent) is a terrestrial species, growing in hot, swampy places, and during the rainy season is often 
half submerged. S. caudatum, however, is epiphytic, never being found except on trees. The latter species comes from 
Central America, and S. Roezlii is found in Ecuador, Peru, and Columbia; and well we remember Roezl telling us that 
his Selenipedium grows by tens of thousands by the side of the road leading along the River Cauca from Buenaventura 
upwards in the same manner as our bullrushes grow in the Kent ditches. 
Our plate was taken from a plant in the possession of W. S. Kimball, Esq., Rochester, New York. 
