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VoL. XVI.] DECEMBER, 1908. [No. 192. 
THE TWENTY BEST HYBRID CYPRIPEDES. 
THIRTEEN years ago an interesting article by Mr. E. H. Woodall, of Scar- 
borough, appeared in this work, under the title ‘“‘ An Ideal Cypripedium 
List ” (O.R., iii. pp. 300-304), which concluded with a list of twenty-two 
of the ‘‘ most desirable kinds,’ the number being equally divided between 
species and hybrids. An enormous number of hybrids have appeared since, 
while some that were then rare have become better known, and it is 
suggested that we should open our columns for a discussion as to the best 
twenty hybrids. The question is opened by Mr. Francis Wellesley, of 
Westfield, Woking, who writes as follows :— 
The twenty best hybrid Cypripediums yet seen are, in my judgment :— 
C. x Actzeus langleyense. C. x Leeanum, var. J. Gurney Fowler. 
C. x Ason giganteum. “C. X Maudiz magnificum. 
C. xX Alcibiades magnificum. C. x. Mr. F. Sander. 
C. X Beekmanii. C. X San-Actzus, var. etoniense. 
C. X Dreadnought. C. x Sultan. 
C. x F. K. Sander. C. x Thalia, var. giganteum (insigne. 
C. x Gaston Bultel, var. King Edward. Chantinii x Baron Schréder). 
C. x Germaine Opoix, Westfield var. C. x Thalia var. Mrs. Francis Wellesley 
C. x Helen II., Orchidhurst var. (Baron Schroder X insigne Chantinii). 
(insigne Sanderz x bellatulum album). C. X The Baron. 
x Helen II., Westonbirt var. (i. C. X The Premier. 
Harefield Hall var. x bellatulum). C. x Troilus, var. Cravenianum;: 
Of these twenty Cypripediums, five were raised by Mr. Seden for Messrs. 
Veitch, three by Mr. Alexander for Colonel Holford, three by Mr. T. 
Armstrong, three by Messrs. Sander & Sons, two by M. Opoix, one by M. 
Linden, one by M. Dallemagne, and one (Mr. F. Sander) is a natural hybrid 
imported by Messrs. Sander. 
The primary species were varieties of insigne in no fewer than eighteen 
cases, villosum in six, Spicerianum in five, Fairrieanum in four, barbatum, 
bellatulum and Boxallii in three each, and Charlesworthii, Lawrenceanum 
Hyeanum, callosum Sandere, Rothschildianum, and Druryi one each. 
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