aK.) 
(Wal 
PL. CCCCXIV. 
CY PRIPEDIUM INSIGNE wa tticu var MONTANUM. 
CYPRIPEDIUM. Vide Lindenia, Engl. ed., I, p. 31. 
Cypripedium insigne WALLICH in LINDL. Collect. Bot., t. 32. 
ew Orchids are more popular than Cypripedium insigne, and the favour 
is well deserved, because it is a plant of the easiest possible culture, 
| and so common as to be sold at a very cheap rate. It blooms during the 
winter in profusion, and its flowers remain fresh for a long period. Its form, too, 
is very graceful. The dorsal sepal is well displayed, and charmingly coloured, 
apple green from the base to the centre, and covered with larger or smaller more 
or less numerous brown spots. It is surrounded by a white border, sometimes 
much broader at the apex, and on which the spots approach violet, instead of 
brown, as at the base. 
The species is extremely variable, and during recent years a considerable 
number of new and very interesting forms have appeared. 
Among the old varieties two only have a great reputation, C. imsigne Maulet 
(or C. msigne albo-marginatum), and C. insigne Chantini (or C. insigne punctatum 
violaceunt). 
C. insigne Maulet appeared in 1855, in a small importation made by Messrs 
HENpERSon. Its flowers were very remarkable, and the unique plant having been 
divided a certain number of pieces found purchasers in 1869 at the price of £5 each. 
It has the dorsal sepal broad, but a little reflexed near the base, with a broad 
white border at the apex, the spots numerous and extending above the green 
portion, and the lip broad and long, and ofa clear olive-green. 
On taking a side view it is easy to distinguish C. insigne Chanlini, because 
the dorsal sepal is incurved in front, while in other varieties this organ is nearly 
straight. 
C. insigne Chantini has the dorsal sepal more expanded, and _ therefore 
appearing broader than the preceding, and distinctly rounded, green at the base, 
and with a broad white band at the summit, descending at the sides nearly to the 
base, and abundantly spotted with purple brown. The spots are often arranged 
in four longitudinal lines, and become violet-purple when they extend into the 
white region at the summit. 
With the exception of these two distinct varieties of superior beauty, C. insigne 
was until recent years considered to be a very constant species, but more recently 
a new type has been discovered to which the name of C. insigne montanum has 
been given; and which has proved extremely rich in variations, both in form and 
ove 
