Cypripedium. 0RCHIDACE2E. 287 



2. Cypripedium parviflorum, Salisb. Smaller Yellow Ladys-slipper. 



Stem leafy ; sepals broadly ovale ; lip shorter than the petals, flattish above and below ; 

 sterile stamen triangular, acute (Hook.). — Salisb. in Lin. trans. I, p. 77. t. 2. f. 2 ; Pursh, 

 fl. 2. p. 594 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 327 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 507 ; Hook, in hot. mag. t. 3024, and 

 fl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 205. C. Calceolus, Michx. fl. 2. p. 161. 



Root consisting of thick fibres. Stem about a foot and a half high, pubescent. Leaves 

 4-6 inches long, ovate, clasping at the base, pubescent. Flowers solitary or in pairs. 

 Sepals ovale-lanceolate, purplish brown mixed with green. Petals much narrower and rather 

 larger, undulate and twisted, green, spotted with purplish brown, or sometimes wholly pur- 

 plish. Lip 1-1^ inch long, somewhat flattened above and below, the sides swelling out. 



Woods, swamps, and hill sides : not common. May - June. 



This and the preceding species are very nearly allied, and many of our botanists do not 

 consider them distinct. Since my attention has been particularly directed to these plants, 

 I have had no opportunities of comparing them in the living state. The diagnostic characters 

 given above are those of Hooker, who has no doubt (having examined cultivated specimens) 

 that they are perfectly distinct. 



3. Cypripedium spectabile, Salisb. Shoivy Ladys-slipper. 



Stem leafy ; sepals somewhat equal, ovate, obtuse, longer than the flat lanceolate petals ; 

 lip longer than the petals ; sterile stamen cordate-ovate, obtuse. — Salisb. in Linn, trans. 1. 

 ■p. 78. t. 3. /. 3 ; Willd. sp. 4. p. 143 ; Pursh, fl. 2. p. 594 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 328 ; Ell. 

 sk. 2. p. 509 ; Bart. fl. N. Am. 2. t. 65 ; Torr. compend. p. 523 ; Beck, bot. p. 352 ; Lindl. 

 in bot. reg. t. 1666 ; Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 205. C. album, Ait. Kew. (ed. 1.) 3. p. 303. 

 C. Canadense, Michx. fl. 2. p. 161. C. calceolus, Linn. sp. (ed. 2.) 2. p. 1347. 



Root consisting of numerous thick fleshy fibres. Stem 1 - 2 feet high, pubescent (as are 

 likewise the leaves), slout. Leaves ovate, acuminate, 3-6 inches long and 2-3 inches 

 wide, nerved and plaited, wilh a pretty strong nerve close to the margin all around. Flowers 

 solitary or two (sometimes 3) together, very large. The two lower sepals united their whole 

 length and appearing like a single sepal, which resembles the upper one ; both white like the 

 narrower petals. Lip much inflated, more than an inch long, variegated with stripes of purple 

 and white. 



Swamps, and sometimes in woods : rather rare. June - July. 



4. Cypripedium acaule, Ait. Noalis Ark. Pu?ple Lady s- slipper. 



Leaves 2, radical, oblong ; scape leafless, one-flowered ; sepals ovate-lanceolate, about the 

 length of the linear petals ; lip with a longitudinal cleft in front ; sterile stamen roundish- 



