3 02 NAT. ORDER. ORCHIDEiE. 
but was taKen to England, and there introduced for cultivation in 
the Royal Garden about the year 1770. The most scientific and 
practical authors inform us that all sorts of the Cypripediuin are 
with difficulty preserved and propagated in gardens. They also 
recommend that they be planted in a loamy soil, and in a situation 
where they can have the morning sun only. It should also be ob- 
served, that they should be procured from the places where they 
naturally grow. The roots should seldom be removed ; for trans- 
planting prevents them from flowering, which usually takes place 
in June. 
It is well known that there are several species, as well as var- 
ieties of the Cypripediujn, some smooth and some hairy ; and ex- 
hibiting a diversity of color in the blossom. But all very nearly 
correspond in the shape of the flower, which is of a hollow, bag- 
like shape, open at the top, compared by some to a moccasin ; and 
hence by the Indians called moccasin-flower. 
" The Cypripedium Jiumile, Red or Purple Lady's SHp- 
per, is more common than either of the others, and is variously 
called low lady's slipper, dwarf umbil, American valerian, nervine, 
Noah's ai'k, and moccasin-flower. The latter name was given by 
the Indians, who employ it in the decoration of their hair. It 
grows in open woods, and most frequently where the pine tree 
prevails, but not unfrequently in shady swamps. It is found in 
considerable quantities in most parts of Massachusetts and New- 
York. Maine also yields it abundantly." — Mattson's Materia 
Medica. 
The Cypripedium parvijlorum. Yellow Lady's Slipper ; Cy- 
pripediiLin spectabile, Tall Lady's Slipper ; Cypripedium puhescens, 
Spotted Lady's Slipper ; Cypripedium acaule, Purple Lady's Slip- 
per : all are laid down by the various medical writers as possess- 
ing nearly the same properties. The Purple Lady's Shpper is the 
kind which is mostly used in the United States, and that princi- 
pally by the botanic physicians. It is collected in the fall, and 
