CYPRIPEDIUM LOWEI. 
CYPRIPEDIUM LOWEI. 
Nat. Order, ORCHiDAcEiE, \ CvpaiPEDiEiE, 
297 
Gkkeric Character. — Cypripedium, Linn. — Perianth sis- 
parted, or, by tile coherence of the two lower outer lobes, five- 
parted, the lobes spreading: ; the three outer broader, the 
uppermost broadest, the two lower inserted below the labellum, 
and either free or eonfluent ; the two lateral inner segments 
narrow ; labellum in front, very larfje, infl.ated into a pouch, 
somewhat resembling a high shoe, without a spur. Column 
short, nodding, lobed above, the lateral lobes each bearing an 
anther beneath; anthers inserted transversely in the under side 
of the lateral lobes of the eoluum, two-celled, the cells some- 
what separated, each bursting by a longitudinal slit ; pollen at 
first gi'anular, then waxy, afterwards almost fluid. Ovary in- 
ferior, one-celled, not twisted, with many anatropous ovules, 
arranged on thi-ee parietal placentas ; columnar style somewhat 
curved forwards, shortly stalk-like below, four-lobed above, the 
posterior lobe expanded, petaloid or fleshy, overhanging the 
stigma, the lateral lobes bearing the anthers ; stigma deltoid, 
occupying the lower face of the column between the anthers 
and anterior, terminal lobe of the column. Capsule one-ceUed, 
with three parietal placentas. Seeds numerous, minute ; embryo 
a minute, acotyledonous cellular body, in a loose cellular testa. 
CrpRiPEDitrsi LowEi, Lbidley. Low's Lady's Slipper. — Bracts 
not equal to the germen ; the two lower segments of the outer 
circle of the perianth united into a broadly lanceolate, acuminate 
piece, attenuated below and somewhat incui-ved, the upper one 
lanceolate ; labellum with a notch in front of the pouch, and a 
large triangular tooth on each side; lateral segments much 
longer than the outer, narrowly lanceolate-spathulate and acu- 
minated; leaves long, obtuse, slightly notched at the apex, 
sheathing at the base. 
Stnontstt. — Cypripedium Lowei, Llndley in Gard, Citron.^ 
1847, p. 765. 
IT^ESCRIPTION. — A stemless perennial herb. Leaves broad witli somewhat parallel sides, 
^ rotuided off at the end and slightly notched at the tip, embracing the stem and the 
base of the succeeding leaf, bright green. Flowers few (8-10 in the wild plant), on a slender, 
finely glandular scape ; bracts lanceolate, acute, embracing the germen, not quite equalling it 
in length. Perianth large, and variously coloured ; the two lower sepals confluent into one 
broadly lanceolate-acuminate piece, attenuated into a narrower portion below, slightly inflexed 
above, one and a half inches long, green, with a purplish tinge near the base ; upjaer sepal 
narrowly lanceolate-acute, colotu-ed like the others. Lateral petals much longer, narrow 
below, and much broader towards the end, then acuminated ; at first spreading, then curved 
inwards and upwards, three inches long, yellowish green near the base, spotted with piu-pKsh 
brown, purplish rose with yellow margins and midi-ibs in the upper half. Labellum one and 
a half inches long with the pouch nearly an inch deep, broad and inflated, open above, with 
a notch in front and a large triangular tooth on each side, separated by a notch from the base, 
purplish green and shining. All the segments of the perianth somewhat veiaed. — A. H. 
History, &c. — This pretty Lady's Slipper was gathered by Mr. Low, jim., in Borneo, 
where it was discovered growing on high trees in thick jungle. It was introduced by this 
gentleman to the nm-sery of Mr. Low of Clapton about 1846, and was first bloomed in Em-ope 
in the garden of A. Kem-ick, Esq., of West Bromwich. Om- drawing was made in the nursery 
of Messrs. Rollissou, of Tooting, from a plant which these gentlemen exhibited at the May 
show of the Horticultural and Royal Botanic Societies. 
CuLTUKE. — Cypripedium Lowei requires to be grown in the Orchid house. It is of easy 
culture there, producing its interesting flowers in the spring months. Mr. Brown, foreman at 
the Tooting Nursery, has copimunicated an outline of the manner in which the plant from 
which our figm-e is taken, was cultivated, and we cannot do better than introduce it here : — 
" The Cypripedium should be grown in company with such plants as CcelogjTies, Coi-yanthes, 
Zygopetalums, Calanthes, &c., in a temperature ranging, by day, from seventy-five to eighty- 
five degrees, and, at night, from sixty to seventy degrees. In the muter season, fi-om sixty to 
seventy degrees by day is sufficient. While the plants are growing, the atmosphere must be 
maintained in a moist state ; the plants also require a tolerable supply of water, which should 
be given with a syi-inge or a smaU pot round about the plant, but care must be taken not to water 
over the foliage, for this would be very likely to cause the plant to rot. In the -nanter and resting 
season, water must be applied very sparingly, and the atmosphere must be kept much drier. 
The plant requires plenty of pot-room, and the pots must be weU di-ained. The compost 
should be rich in vegetable matter : such as a mixtirre of one half decomposed sphagnmn, and 
one half of rich fibrous peat soU. The plant comes into flower in spring, and remains fi'om 
two to three months in bloom, if kept in a warm dry house." — M. 
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