128 



THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



The dwarf yelloAV moccasin flower (C. pusiUiiiii) is one 

 of the smallest species known. It was first reported from 

 Florida by R. A. Rolfe. It also belongs to the two-leaved 

 section, and has been confused, as a varietal form of Cypripe- 

 diuin fasciculatuiu — the pigmy species of the Pacific region. 

 The scape is very small, and produces a raceme of two or three 

 terminal shoe-shaped flowers. The labellum is light yellow, 

 with A^einings of brown-purple color. 



Cypripcdiimi Calif ornicuin is the most beautiful species 

 found west of the Rocky Mountain Divide. It is the only 

 native which produces a long raceme of flowers, and is endemic 

 to the Pacific Slope. It was found by Douglas in companv 

 with the pitcher plant (Darliiigtouia) in a boggy meadow at 

 the base of Mount Shasta, California. Prof. Asa Gray de- 

 scribed the species in 1868. The large, leafy stem of the 

 plant rises three or four feet high. The upper eight to twelve 

 bract-like leaves, are four inches long, and from the axils of 

 each alternates a simple raceme of small, dainty, rose-pink 

 moccasins, similar to those of C. reginac in form and coloring. 

 These fiowery slippers remind one of little papoose shoes, hung 

 on pegs, by some phantom Indian squaw. The labellum is 

 about the size of that of C. candidum^ of a pink color over- 

 fiowing with a darker wine color; the blunt sepals and side 

 petals are similar in shape to those of C. rcgiuae, although of 

 a green-yellow, instead of waxen wdiite hue. The species has 

 a range from northern California throughout AA'ashington, 

 Oregon, and Idaho. It is rarely cultivated. 



The small white moccasin flower (C passerininn ) , al- 

 though nearly related to the racemed moccasin flower (C. 

 Calif oniiaiin ) , is quite unlike it. The leafy stem produces a 

 terminal, shoe-shaped, white flower, and the plant is small. 

 The species has a range from the pine forests along the sandy 

 banks of Yukon river, Alaska, southward to Oregon, Montana, 

 and California. It is rarely cultivated. 



