CYPRIPEDIUM (HYBRIDUM) CALYPSO, 

 OAKWOOD VAR. 



A hybrid derived from Cypripedium Sp: 

 orbicular, the basal margin reflexed, as in C. Spic 

 rest white spotted and lined with bright purple, < 

 those of C. Boxallii, but rather narrower, undulate 



crossed with the pollen of C. Boxalii, whose features it well combines. The dorsal sep£ 

 mum, and the apical part a little incurved ; the basal third green, spotted with dark purple-brown, 

 ;pt near the margin ; along the centre extends a broad band of very deep purple. Petals much 

 the basal half of the superior margin ; ground colour palest green, the basal third densely speckled 1 



lightly mottled with a palei 



in shape, suffused with wai 



i shape, but rather flatter, suffused with lilac 



itratum crossed with the pollen of C. Spicer 



16 ; Journ. of Hort, 1892, ii., p. 559, fig. 101. 



colour on the lower one, the two being sepa- 

 m shining brown in front, light green at the 

 •purple, and with a small dark green tubercle 

 anum, and is, therefore, the reverse cross. 



xhibited ; 



:ing of the Royal 



brown, suffused with light shining brown towards the apex or 

 rated by a median band of deep purple-brown. Lip much 1 

 apex and behind. Staminode much like that of C. Spicerianum ir 

 in the centre. The Oakwood variety was derived from C. Boxallii e 



Cypripedium x Calypso, Hort, Gard. Chron., 1891, i., p. I 



Cypripedium x Calypso, Oakwood variety, Gard. Chron., 1892, i., p. 88. 



Cypripedium x Calypso originated in the establishment of Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, of Chelsi 

 Horticultural Society on January 17th, 1891. According to the record, it was raised from C. Spicerianum and C. Boxallii, the former being the seed parent. 

 It bears a strong resemblance of C. X Lathamianum, in which C. villosum replaced C. Boxallii as the pollen parent, but that hybrid lacks the purple veining 

 and spotting in the white ground of the dorsal sepal. The Oakwood variety of Cypripedium X Calypso, which is represented in the accompanying plate, was 

 raised in the collection of Norman C. Cookson, Esq., Oakwood, Wylam-on-Tyne, from C. Boxallii atratum and C. Spicerianum, the latter, in this case, being 

 the pollen parent. In almost every respect it is an improvement on the original, and received a First-class Certificate from the Royal Horticultural Society 

 on January 12th, 1892. It is a bold and handsome hybrid, most resembling C. Boxallii, except in the dorsal sepal and staminode, both of which are strongly 

 stamped with the characters of C. Spicerianum. #• A. Rolfe. 



Our analytical drawings represent the 



both from the top and side. 



Various forms of C. (hybridum) Calypso have appeared differing in the beauty of their flowers in the same degree as the 

 flowers used for crossing to obtain them have been good or bad. The original variety, raised by Messrs. James Veitch 

 & Sons, is a very beautiful hybrid, but some which have since appeared are very inferior, and scarcely worth growing. 

 By far the best form of C. (hybridum) Calypso is that raised by Norman C. Cookson, Esq., Oakwood, Wylam-on-Tyne, 

 which in the beauty of its stately flowers and the richness of their colouring, seems destined to hold the first place 

 among hybrid Cypripediums of its class. It was obtained by crossing C. Boxallii atratum (a grand variety which we 

 flowered out of one of our importations) with the pollen of a fine form of C. Spicerianum, and it appears to have gained 

 its superior strength through the stronger growing species being used as the seed bearer, while the far greater beauty of 

 its flowers may easily be accounted for by the superior quality of both the species used for crossing. 



The leaves of C. Calypso, Oakwood variety, are bright green, resembling those of a large C. Spicerianum. The 

 flowers are well displayed, the shining petals and labellum, bright yellow, tinged with reddish brown. The fine upper 

 sepal is pure white, with a broad purple band up the middle, on each side of which run lighter purple blotches. 



Its nearest ally is C. (hybridum) Lathamianum (Spicerianum? villosum 2), and, like that variety, it will thrive 

 well in a tolerably cool house. C. Calypso, Oakwood variety, was awarded a First-class Certificate by the Orchid 

 Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, January 12, 1892. It is a winter-flowering plant, and consequently the 

 more valuable on that account. 



