142 ORCHIDS 



Cypei'orchis. 

 C. Mastersii {Bcut/i.). — In growth this somewhat resembles 

 Cxmhidiiim ebiiniciiiii. The leaves, however, are longer, broader, 

 and more recurved, and are destitute of that close-sheathing 

 base so characteristic of^ the latter. The flowers, too, are smaller 

 than those of Cymbidliiin ebiirneuiii, ivory-white, with a yellow 

 throat ; the lip is purple-spotted in front. This species is valuable, 

 blossoming as it does in winter, the fragrant almond-scented flowers 

 remaining a long time good. Introduced from .\ssam in 1S41. 

 Syn. Cyinhidiiim Mastersii. (K. R., 1845, ^- 5°-) 



CYPRIPEDIUM. 



The s^^enus Cypripediiiin was founded by Linnseus on 

 our nati\'e species Cypripediuni Calccoliis, now unfortu- 

 nately becoming exceedingly rare, if not altogether extinct 

 in England, but still plentiful in some localities in 

 Central Europe. The generic name is derived from Kupris, 

 one of the Greek names of Venus, and pons, podos, a foot ; 

 in reference to the slipper-like form of the labellum. The 

 popular names of Lady's Slipper and Slipper Worts are 

 also ob\-iously in allusion to the last-named characteristic. 

 The genus belongs to the tribe Cypripcdieiv. 



We liave decided to discard the recent divisions in 

 respect of this genus that have been made by eminent 

 botanists, and to class the Eastern section as Cjpripediitiii, 

 and the South xAmerican section as Sclcnipcdiitni, the 

 names that we are most accustomed to, and that have been 

 in general use in gardens for many years. Although we 

 ha\-e separated the genus Scloiipcdiuin from Cypripediian 

 for purposes of reference, yet the cultural requirements 

 being in most cases similar, it has been thought desirable 

 to deal with both genera, so far as the latter is concerned, 

 in the brief particulars that follow. 



In the majority of Orchid genera, the botanical distinc- 

 tion is so small that the systematic botanist not 

 infrequently experiences considerable difficulty in pointing- 

 out the characteristics by which they may be distinguished 

 from each other ; w hile e\-en the tribes and sub-tribes are 

 not always .separated by an easily discernible and definite 

 line. Not so, however, \\-ith the genus under consideration. 

 \ comparison of the flower of a Cypripedium with that of 

 any other genus belonging to another tribe will show that 



