Several species of this beautiful and interesting genus were
imported from North America, this Spring, by Mr. George
Charlwood, and are now growing at the Nursery of Mr.
Dennis, at Chelsea, where they have flowered magnificently;
besides the present species, were C. humile, C.parnijlorum,
C.puhescens, and C. spectabile ; of the latter species, a
beautiful white variety flowered with him, of which we intend
shortly to publish a figure : several other curious American
plants, and seeds, were received by him at the same
time, and may be procured from him at a moderate rate ;
amongst the rest, a great many plants of different species of
Sarracenta, or Side-saddle flower.
The plant from which our drawing was made, in May last,
was the strongest of the sort that we ever saw, producing
three flower-stems at once; it was cultivated in a pot of
light leaf mould ; but we believe the best way to succeed
well with the plants of this genus would be to plant them in
a shady wood ; the soil to be composed of decayed leaves
and turfy peat soil, so as to imitate as much as possible their
natural places of growth. Pursh mentions the present species
as growing in sphagnous woods, about Montreal, in
Canada ; and we have been informed by a gentleman who
visited that country, that the soil in which the different species
grow wild, is so light, that by a very slight pull they
may be taken clean out of the ground, without injuring a
root, the whole being composed of decayed leaves and
branches, so that the hand may be thrust several inches deep
in the ground with ease.
1 . Perianthium spread open, divested o f the labellum, showing its 5 leaflets,
2. Labellum split open, to show its villous inside. 3. Inside view o f the
Style, with the anthers affixed to the two side lobes, and the column lobe at the
back of the Stigma. 4. Outside view o f the same, divested o f the column lobe.
5. Column lobe taken from the Style.