738 orchid-grom'er's manual. 



TIROPEDIUM, Lhidley. 



{Tribe Cypripedieae.) 

 This genus contains but one species, a very interesting plant, 

 agreeing entirely with the Selenipedium group of Gypripedium except as 

 regards the character of the lip, which, instead of taking the form of a 

 pouch- or slipper, is like the petals, that is to say, long and caudate with 

 the flat base slightly broader and concave. The only sp<^cies is a native 

 of Colombia. 



Culture. — Though not very showy, this plant is well worth growing 

 on account of its peculiarly-shaped blossoms ; and it is by no means a 

 difficult plant to cultivate, if it gets the treatment it requires. We have 

 found it to do best potted in a mixture of loam, peat, and sand, with 

 good drainage. The plant should be placed just below the rim of the 

 pot, and watered liberally at the roots during the growing season, which 

 is nearly all the year. It requires but little rest, for having no ileshy 

 bulbs to support it, a certain degree of moisture is necessary at the roots, 

 even when it is comparatively at rest. After the growth is completed it 

 will begin to show flower, and then care should be taken that it does not 

 get dry at the root, for it requires a good quantity of nourishment to 

 bring its flowers to perfection. We have seen this plant shrivelled when 

 the blossoms have been showing, and from this cause they have been 

 nearly spoiled and the plant injured. If this species is allowed to get 

 into an unhealthy state it is a long time before it recovers ; it blooms 

 during the summer months, and lasts some time in beautj-. Propagation 

 is eifected by dividing the plant when it has done growing, or just as it 

 begins to push. 



U. LINDENI, Liadl. — A monotypic plant of much interest on account of 

 the singular structure of its flowers. It forms a distichous tuft of erect 

 leathery ligulate obtuse pale green leaves, about 10 inches in length, resembling 

 those of Cypripedumi caudaium, the branching two-flowered velvety scape 

 growing up a foot high or more from the centre of the leaves; the blossoms, 

 which are produced from the loose spathaceous bracts, are large and singular 

 in shape; the sepals are broad oval lanceolate with wavy edges, white with 

 green veins, the linear-ligulate petals, and the lip which is oblong lanceolate at 

 the base, are velvety white streaked with green at the base, the points beino- 

 lengthened out into purplish-red tail-like appendages, which frequently attain 

 as much as 2 feet in length. It flowers in May. — New Grenada. 



Fici. — Pescatm'ca, t. 2 ; Xenia Orch., i. t. 15 ; Flore des Serres, vi. p. 123 with fio-. • 

 Belff. Hort., 1854, p. 193, with tab. ; Gartenflora, t, 315 ; L' rchidiipMU, 1893, p. 80." ' 



