62 CYPRIPEDIUM ACAULE.—STEMLESS MOCCASIN FLOWER. 
the present species of Cypripedium so much on account of its 
beauty as of its rarity, for it is far less handsome than any of the 
other species that we are acquainted with.” It may be noted 
here that the species is very variable, and Mr. Curtis had but 
one of the poorest of the varieties to draw from. Cur readers, 
looking at our drawing, will probably pronounce it a beautiful 
species. We have often found taller specimens on the hills bor- 
dering the Susquehanna river in Pennsylvania, besides larger 
and more vigorous every way than that which we have selected 
for illustration. The color of the one in our plate is, however, 
as rich as in any of the forms usually found. 
There are some special points in the structure of this Cypripe- 
dium which gives its beauty a peculiar interest among moccasin 
flowers. The peculiar slipper-like lip, which is so striking in 
other species, is modified in this one by having, as Professor 
Wood says, “the lip cleft before’”—that is to say, the shoe has 
been slit down along the upper portion of the foot! This makes 
it look more like a shell than a slipper. Another peculiarity is 
that it is stemless—that is, the flower stalk arises directly from 
the root stock, and is not supported on a leafy stem, as in other 
species. Herein is found the derivation of both of its names— 
acaule and humile ; each signifying a lowly condition of existence. 
It grows naturally under trees in rather dry situations. Dr. 
Gray in the “ Manual” says it is found in “dry or moist woods, 
under evergreens.” If this mean that it is only found under 
evergreens, the observations of that distinguished author are at 
variance with those of other collectors. In Pennsylvania the 
writer has but once collected it under hemlock spruces. Its 
general place of growth is in woeds of deciduous trees, and in 
such situations it is usually found in New Jersey. Though in 
these places it is somewhat gregarious, that is to say, a great 
number may be often collected in one wood; the individual plants 
are much scattered, and are generally at least several feet apart. 
One of the most interesting branches of modern botanical 
study relates to the manner in which flowers receive their pollen. 
