Marcu, 1922 ] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 69 
CYPRIPEDIUMS—THE BELLATULUM-NIVEUM GROUP 
By HAROLD RAVEN, 
ROBABLY no section of this great genus has been used with more 
p effect in modern hybridisation than the “ bellatulum-niveum group,” 
so that a brief note on the various species that compose the group, together 
with their hybrids and culture, will perhaps not be out of place. The group 
which is at once one of the most distinct and interesting in the genus 
includes, in addition to the two named in the title, the species concolor and 
Godefroy, making four in all. Of these we find that C. concolor was the 
first to be introduced into cultivation, for it was discovered by the Rev. C. 
Parish, at Pya Thonzoo near Moulmein in 1859, and introduced by Messrs. 
Low, some five years later. In habit C. concolor is dwarf, the foliage 
mottled lighter green above and red-purple beneath; the scape bearing one 
or two flowers of light yellow, thickly speckled with minute spots of red. 
In 1868, C. niveum was discovered in the Tambelan Islands and first 
appeared in a batch of C. concolor imported by Messrs. Veitch. It was 
awarded a First Class Certificate when exhibited before the R.H.S. on the 
tgth of April, 1871. Closely resembling C. concolor in habit, the flowers 
of C. niveum are of a pure satiny white, minutely dotted with purple at the 
base of the upper sepal and petals. 
C. bellatum which is found in the Shan States, Upper Burma, and Siam, 
was introduced by Messrs. Low, in 1888, while Godefroy, a native of 
Siam, which was originally discovered by Murton near the Bird’s-nest 
Champon Islands, did not appear until some years later; its variety 
leucochilum, a very fine form, appearing in the collection of the well-known 
Orchidist Mr. R. S. Measures, of Camberwell, in 1894. C. bellatulum, 
another dwarf species, has finely tessellated foliage and bears beautiful shell- 
shaped flowers of creamy white, nearly uniformly spotted with purple- 
maroon ; the variety album is a fine pure white form in which the flowers 
are entirely free from spotting. C. Godefroye is very similar in habit to 
bellatum, and has light yellow flowers which are blotched and spotted with 
purple; the variety leucochilum is distinct in that the lip is unspotted. 
Having so small an area of distribution it is obvious that the various 
Species of the group require much the same cultural conditions. In the 
Past, what of unnatural conditions and lack of knowledge, they were deemed 
difficult subjects to grow, and acquired the reputation of speedily dying out 
in most collections unless frequently replaced by fresh importations. This 
indeed is not to be wondered at when one considers the unsuitable 
treatment meted out to them, and the very meagre knowledge which 
Stowers possessed of their requirements. Given reasonable treatment they 
are not difficult to please, and there is no reason why they should not thrive 
