THE ORCHID REVIEW. 355. 
CYPRIPEDIUM CHARLESWORTHII. 
tf | (See FRONTISPIECE.) 
WE are now able to present our readers with a coloured plate of the new 
} and beautiful Cypripedium Charlesworthii, which was noticed some time ago 
in our pages (p. 303). It came as a great surprise, for no one imagined that 
_ 80 fine and distinct a species remained undiscovered in our great Indian 
Empire. It is true that many districts are yet very imperfectly explored, and 
_ that the habitat of the remarkable Cypripedium Fairieanum still remains a 
mystery. But the appearance of a species with a rose-coloured dorsal sepal 
could scarcely have been anticipated; at least in the particular group to 
_ Which it belongs. It was the sensation of the Royal Horticultural Society’s 
meeting on September 26th last, when it was unanimously awarded a First- 
class Certificate by the Orchid Committee, and was universally admired. As 
already pointed out, its nearest ally is C. Spicerianum, though in many 
Tespects the two are very different. In habit and general character of the 
_ Vegetative organs they are much alike, but the purple-brown streaks on the 
under side of the leaves of the present one extend further from the base, in 
- some cases beyond the middle. The scapes, too, are a little shorter. The 
piece de résistance is the dorsal sepal, which is suffused with light soft rosy 
: Purple, a little marbled with white towards the apex, and the nerves 
Senerally a little darker than the ground colour. In shape it is nearly orbi- 
cular, flat or at length a little concave, and two and a quarter inches in 
diameter. The petals are linear-oblong, flat, one and a quarter inches long, 
and greenish yellow somewhat nerved with light brown. The lip is as long 
as the petals, and rather similar in colour. The-staminode is another very 
distinct feature. It is ivory-white or nearly porcelain-white, with a curved 
light yellow horn-like tooth near the apex. It is likely to become just as 
_ Popular as C. Spicerianum, not only asa decorative plant, but also for hybridi- 
_ Sation purposes. To the hybridist it should prove a great acquisition, for 
it presents a colour which has been much sought after, and its handsome 
dorsal sepal is sure to originate some striking developments, when crossed 
With other richly coloured forms. Altogether we may predict that so handsome 
species will become a general favourite. It is an autumn-bloomer, and no 
doubt will succeed under the same treatment as C. Spicerianum. The few 
flowers which have already expanded indicate a certain variability in colour. 
Our plate represents the darkest form which has appeared. This fine eae 
has been introduced by Messrs. Charlesworth, Shuttleworth and Co., 0 
Heaton, Bradford, who are now sending it out. Next autumn, nit a 
Plants have had time to become established, a general ecm davopiicd 
Cipated. It is probable that we have not yet witnesse 
I. p. 303; Journ. of Hort., 1893, 
oe Cypripedium Charlesworthii, Rolfe in Orchid Review, 
4 P. 307, fig. 43 ; Gard. Chron., 1893; ii. p» 437s fig. 70- 
