524 



ORCHIDS 



British and other Hardy Orchids. 



name of Ram's-head Orchis is due. This species inhabits 

 swamps and damp woods in North America and West China. 

 It thrives here in bog-peat, or in good sandy leaf-mould, and 

 flowers in June. Introduced in 1808. (B. M., t. 1569.) 



C. Calceolus (Z.). — Interesting as being the largest- 

 flowered amongst British Orchids ; it is also an ornamental and 

 useful garden plant. Stems ift. to lift, high, with about four 

 large, ovate, pointed leaves, and one or two flowers. The 

 latter have dark brown, wavy sepals and petals, i^in. long, the 

 dorsal sepal the broadest; pouch lin. long, clear yellow, the 



Fig. 177. Cypripedium (i) acaule, (2) Calceolus, (3) spectabile 



(much reduced). 



end rounded and curved upwards. This species blossoms in 

 May or June. It should be planted 6in. deep, in good, light, 

 fibrous loam, in a deep fissure of the rockery, or in a border 

 where it will get shade from bright sunshine. It may also be 

 cultivated in pots or pans, in a mixture of loam and peat. 

 When happily situated it increases rapidly, and we have seen 

 patches of it a yard square, bearing over fifty flower-spikes. 

 Besides its British habitat, this species is also found in Northern 

 Europe and Asia down to the Himalayas. (Figs. 177 and 178.) 

 Var. major has flowers 4in. across. 



