35 
CYPRIPEDIUM VENUSTUM. 
Spotted Lady'S'Slipper. 
f GYNANDRIA DIANDRIA— Nat. Ohd. ORCHIDEJE. 
Gen. Char. — Labellum ventricosum, inflatum (nunc saccatum). Colimna 
postice terminata lobo petaloideo (stamine sterili) antheras distinguente. 
I Petala duo antica, saepe connata Br. in Hort. Ketv. 
Cypripedium venustiim ; acaule, foliis lanceolatis equitantibus macula- 
tis, petalis lateralibus ciliatis, labello veuoso, ore inflexo. 
C. venustum, Waluch, MSS. — Bot. Mag. t. 2129. 
Root composed of several large, reddish, downy, fleshy fibres. Stem none. 
Leaves spreading in a distichous manner, sheathing, and equitant at the 
base, the rest oblongo-lanceolate, dull blueish-green, spotted and clouded 
with a deeper tint, the margins slightly recurved, cartilaginous at the 
edge, and minutely toothed at the extremity ; beneath, the leaves are of 
a fine purple, keeled in the centre, spotted with purple upon a green 
ground at the base. 
Scape scarcely exceeding the leaves in length, rounded, simple, pubescent, 
curved at the extremity. Bractea or spatha ovate, keeled, pubescent, 
green, purple at the back. 
Flower large, handsome, solitary, drooping. The two outer segments of the 
perianth slightly pubescent, white, with beautiful green parallel lines, 
the upper one broadly ovate, acute, slightly concave, horizontal, after- 
wards nearly erect, the lower one composed of 2 united, pendent, ovato- 
lanceolate, acute segments. The 2 inner and lateral segments spreading, 
patent, linear-oblong, waved, the margin somewhat recurved, marked 
with parallel lines, and a few large deep brown spots, the upper half of 
a fine purple, the lower green, where there are a few white hairs, the 
margin beautifully ciliated with purple hairs. Lip large, roundish, ovate, 
inflated, pendent, the upper margin curved inwards, deep yellow, tuber- 
culated, the mouth open, the margin a little incurved, the corner pro- 
jecting upward, the rest of the lip of a purple colour within, extremely 
t^*"gy yellow-green, reticulated, the sides purplish. 
Column of fructification short, terminated by a large, somewhat cuneate, 
fleshy, exposed lobe, green and reticulated, beneath there are 2 lateral, 
hornlike, green processes (filaments), upon each of which is an unequally 
2-lobed orange-yellow anther. Each lobe is ovate, its upper surface fill* 
VOL. I. 
