CYPRIPEDIUM CURTISIT 



[Plate 122.] 



J^ative of the Sunda Isles, Asiatic Archipelago 



Epiphytal. Acaulescent. Leaves distichous, coriaceous, oblong acuto, recurved, 

 •channelled and equitant at the base, of a dull green, the upper surface boldly 

 chequered with oblong markings of darker green, the under side kodcd witli tin' 

 surface paler and unspotted. Scape (peduncle) pubescent, dull wiue-puiple, with a 

 short compressed ovate bract just below the ovary, which is green striyicd with brown. 

 Flowers solitary, remarkable for the small dorsal sepal and large pouch ; (lornttl sc/xil 

 short, ovate acuminate, curving from the base upwards, greenish with a while edge 

 and about ten greenish-purple nerves ; lateral sepals united, very small, ovate, greonish 

 with green veins; petals measuring about four inches from tip to tip, ]inr,ii-.)bl..jit;. 

 arute, wavy, recurved at the tips, greenish in the upper, white in the l<AVcr half, 

 indistinctly veined with purple, and thickly spotted with small purple dots, th<' 

 margin copiously fringed throughout with short purple hairs; hp with a Inrgf oUuug 

 bluntly-rounded pouch (one and a-half inch long) of a dull wine-purple with a few pro- 

 minent darker purple veins, the upper edge of the sac with narrow side angles greenish 

 inside, the basal part with the edges rolled inwards and dot tod with _ purph. 

 Staminodp transversely oblong, emarginate behind and having in front an inwardly 

 curved tooth on each side with an apiculus between, pale yeUowish groon, witli 

 d.'irker green reticulations in the centre. 



Cypripedium Cuhtisii, Reichenhach fiL, in Gardeners' Chronicle, N.s., xx. 8. 



This new species is both distinct and rare. It is, moreover, ver}' beautiful, and 

 one that every lover of Cypripediums will be looking after. There are some cultivator^ 

 ^•ho do not care for this class of Orchids, and there arc some others who grow 

 all the species and varieties they can procure, making the collecting of tliem a 

 liobby. We can fully understand the pleasurable feelings of these latter, ai? the 

 plants are ornamental in foliage as well as in flower, thus always keeping up a g-'d 

 api'oarance ; they are also very easy of cultivation, and most of them tnke but htth' 

 room to grow in. There are now so many species and varieties— blooming, too, at 

 ^lifTercnt periods of the year— that a good display of flowers may always be had 

 from them; and there are some of the species that will do in the Odontogh sum 

 a»;l intermediate houses, added to which their long-endurimr quality scor-s as a great 

 pointy in their favour. We are never without C)T;)ripediums in bloom. 



The specimen we are now figuring was flowered by J. Day, Esq., of Tottenham, 

 ^^ are glad to say, after parting with one of the largest and most rare ^^'^^ 

 •^f Orchids at that time existing, is now fast forming another collection. ^^e 



