I ' l i t
• m 1
Si.'ii! !f
l ' i r l i '
C V P R I P E D I U M C E N A N T H U M S U F E R B U M
A mul e raised b y Mr. S « l e n v i ( h Messrs. J ame s Vci tch and S o m it. .876. It <
H a r r i s i a n u m and Storici, but it really descends from Cypripe<liiira insigne Maulei and I
s h o w s t rong tessellation. They are bi o a d e r tlian tho.?c of Cypr ipcdi i i m insigne. Tlie b r
noiver, not .50 l a r g e as Uiat o i a g o o d CypKpedlum Ham'sianum. The anciijituiis bmcl
is w h i t i s h g reen at tlie base, ivilh violet nerves, ove r whicl i s tand rows of r a i s e d spots
i n f e r i o r c o n n a t e sepal is s h o r t e r than the Hp, whi t ish, w i t h n.auvo nerves, o v e r ^^•luch, a i
I ' c l a l s l lgulat c acute, ciliate, por t wine colour with a v i o l e t hue, yel lo.vish while a t cxl i
H a r r i s i a n u m , port wine colour. Staminodc v e r y s imi lar 10 t h a t of C y p r i p c d l u m insigne
Cvi'RIIM-DIUM IINANTHUJI Rchb. f. Card. Chron., 1876, Marci i 4, N'o. N^ P
i m p r o v e d by its lai^cr spot s o n unpai r sepal.
M a u l e i , but broa<lcr, of ci
• i h c cr o s s b e twe e n Cypriijcdium
vich d a r k hairs a n d general l y beat i a s ingl e
o w n ovary. Tlie rather broad impai r 8e]>al
s e e n in C y p i i p e d i u m insignc Maulei. T h e
d a r k e r spots, but only in I h e bas i la r pari,
s spots. Lip nearly thai of Cypri jxxj ium
rse, yellow.
f , is finer and lai^er in its dimensions,
A n a l y t i c a l drawings. Suminodc e r o f Cypripediui
THE rapid production of a numerous race of hybrid Cypripedia is OQC of the most remarkable phases in the history of
Orchid culture in England during the last thirt)' years. Every season brings its additions to the now long list of hybrid
Orchids, but no other genus has been so productive of the.« as Cypripedium. At the present time there are upwards of
fifty named hybrid Lady's Slipper Orchids, many of which possess great beauty, while all are interesting. The plant
illustrated in the accompanying plate is undoubtedly one of the finest yet produced. It was raised by Messrs. Veitch, of
Chelsea, and is the result of intercrossing C. Harrisianum and C. insigne Maulei, both handsome plants. The hybrid is
exactly intermediate between the parents. It has the same robust growth as Harrisianum, .similarly long leaves, but
not so distinctly mottled. The flowers are borne well above the foliage, on stems as long as those of C. insigne Maulei, and
though, perhaps, not more beautiful, are richcr in colour than those of either of its parents. The ground colour of the whole
flower is a deep vinous purple, but this is variegated by lines and spots in an indescribable way, which is truthfully
shown in the picture. The broad tend of pure white which adorns the unpair sepal of C. insigne Maulei is transmitted
to the hybrid and adds great beauty to the flower. The entire surface of the sepals and pouch shines as if varnished, a
peculiarity possessed by C. Harrisianum. It is still one of the rarest of the hybrid Cypripedia and is much sought aftt;r
on account of its e.xtrcme beauty. Tills particular cross is the more remarkable inasmuch as C. Harrisianum is itself a
hybrid, being in fact the first hybrid Cypripedium raised in Europe, and is thu result of intercrossing C. barbatum and
C. villosum. It is obvious, therefore, that hybrid Orchids are not always sterile, and it is moreover extremely doubtful
if such a beautiful plant as C. cenanthum could have been produced by intercrossing any other Cypripeds. The beautiful
varieties obtained by intercrossing the hybrid C. Sedeni and the species C. Schlimii afford another instance of the
su|3eriority of second crosses. The variableness of hybrid Orchids resulting from the same parents and even from the
same seed vessel is well kno\vn, and the variation in Cypripedium hybrids is most marked. The subject of the annexed
plate is much superior to the original C. anaiithum, though from the same parents, and other instances are C. Leeanum
•supcrbum, C. selligerum majus and C. tcssellatum porphyreum, The cau.se of such variation is difficult to explain.
The culture of this Cypripedium is simple, for, like most of the hybrids, it possesses a strong constitution and is a
free grower. It grows ;vell in a temperature averaging about 60 deg. F, It likes a moist atmospl^re and a rich soil,
—equal parts of good yellow loam and fibrous peat with sufficient sand to keep the whole porous. Like all Cypripeds it
requires an abundant supply of water at all seasons except in the depth of winter.
u r plat e wa s d r awn from .T p l a n t in S. M, Measures, Ksq., T h e Woodlands, Strcs