CY PRIPEDIUM LOWII. 
[PLaTe 428. | 
Native of Sarawak, West Borneo. 
Epiphytal. Acaulescent, with distichous oblong-ligulate leaves, which are equitant 
at’ the base, and somewhat two-lobed at the apex, coriaceous in texture, from a 
foot. to fifteen inches in length, upwards of an inch in breadth, and bright light 
green in colour. Scape two to three feet in length, bearing usually two flowers, 
although at times more are produced. Bracts ovate-acute, much smaller than the 
ovary, strongly ribbed, and light green. Flowers nearly six inches across the petals, 
showy, and all the segments fringed with black hairs; dorsal sepal ovate, acute, 
somewhat ‘hooded at the apex, keeled at the back, and contracted at the _ base, 
Where it is stained with brownish purple, the upper part being pale green when it 
first expands, which, however, passes with age into soft yellow; inferior sepal similar 
in colour, but smaller; petals spathulate, slightly deflexed, upwards of three inches 
long, the basal part greenish yellow marked with large spots of blackish purple, 
apical part clear bright violet-purple ; the pouch-like ip oblong-obtuse, purplish green 
on the upper side, greenish beneath. Staminode inversely cordate, having an erect 
tooth at the base, and another small one on the edge of the inner part, or sinus. 
: CypripepiIum Lowu, Lindley, Gardeners’ Chronicle, 1847, p. 765; Flore des 
Serres, iv., t. 375; Veitch’s Manual of Orchidaceous Plants, iv., p. 38; Les 
Cypripedieés, i.; Florist and Pomologist, 1870, p. 109, with fig. ; Gardeners’ Magazine 
of Botany, i., t. 297; Annales des Gand, 1848, t. 195; Williams’ Orchid Grower's 
50 
Manual, 6th ed., p. 250. 
CYPRIPEDIUM CRUCIFORME, Zolling. 
The present species has been known to Orchid collectors in this country for about 
forty-five years. It is a native of Sarawak, on the West Coast of Borneo, a 
settlement founded by Sir James Brooke, and the province still remains under 
British rule, although not under the dominion of the Crown. The plant was 
~ discovered by Mr. Hugh Low (now Sir Hugh) growing high up on the branches 
and in the forks of the tall trees which abound in that island. The plant was sent 
to the nurseries of Messrs. Low and Co., of Clapton, and it remained a rare plant 
in our gardens for some years, but is now more plentiful. The only other species 
which resembles this one is Cypripedium Haynaldianum; a plant found in the 
Philippines some eighteen years ago, which nevertheless is very distinct from it, and 
at the same time a most beautiful species. con 
Cypripedium Lowii is dedicated to its discoverer, Sir Hugh Low, but through 
some mistake the name appeared as Lowei. It flowered for the first time in this 
country in the collection of Mr. A. Kenrick, and the plant here figured flowered 
