Wild Flowers — Their Cultivation, Sfc. 369 
varyinpj from three to twenty, or in very luxurious plants, to 
thirty or forty, arranged in a pyramidal manner, or in the form 
of a chandelier. Color, a bright orange with numerous redish 
purple spots. We have no recollection of ever having seen any 
of this variety in the vicinity of Albany. According to the de- 
scription it would make a splendid appearance in the flower gar- 
den, and is worthy of cultivation. 
Large Yellow Lady's SLffPER — Cypripediiim pubecens. 
SwARTZ. This much admired flower, is found in moist, shady 
woods, and swamps. There are three varieties of this species, 
and some rather rare. The root of this plant consists of numerous 
thick fibres. Flowering stem simple, and rising from one to two 
feet high. Flowers large and showy, solitary, sometimes in pairs 
with a large foliaceous bract at the base. Petals greenish, stained 
with purple, and from 1| to 2 inches long. Upper sepal rather 
broadly lanceolate; the two lower ones commonly united nearly 
to the tip, but sometimes distinct. Petals lanceolate linear, un- 
dulate and twisted. Lip yellow, 1 to 1| inches long, somewhat 
obovoid, much inflated. 
Smaller Yellow Lady's Slipper — Cypripediuvi parvifiorum. 
This and the preceding are very nearly allied, and many of our 
botanists do not consider them distinct. "I have had no oppor- 
tunity," says Dr. Torrey, "of comparing them in a living state." 
The diagonostic characters given are those of Hooker, who has, no 
doubt, (having examined cultivated specimens) those that are per- 
fectly distinct. The character of this plant does not difl^er mate- 
rially from the preceding. Flowers purplish-brown mixed with 
green. Petals much narrower and rather larger, undulate and 
twisted, green spotted, with purplish brown, or sometimes wholly 
purplish. Lip 1 to l^ inches long, somewhat flattened above 
and below, the sides swelling out. Flowers in May and June. 
Rare, found in woods, swamps and on hill sides. 
Noah's Ark. Purple Lady's Slipper — Cypripedium acavle. 
Ait. This plant is found in the vicinity of Albany, in woods, in 
both dry and moist situations; flowers in May. Roots thick and 
fibrous. Leaves from three to six inches long, from 1 to 1^ 
inches wide, at first erect, but finally spreading. Stalk rises from 
eight to twelve inches high, flowers pendulous, with a shallow 
fissure or indentation in front, greenish mixed with purple. 
This plant bears cultivation remarkably well and improves by 
care and attention. We have had no difficulty in cultivating 
them, and considered ourselves well paid in their splendid show, 
for all our trouble. 
There are a great number of other beautiful native plants that 
are worthy of cultivation, which wc intend to notice at some 
other time. We hope to succeed in introducing to the notice of 
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