18. H. peramœ̀na, Gray. Lower leaves oblong-ovate, the upper lanceolate; spike oblong or cylindrical, densely flowered; lower sepals round-ovate; petals rounded-obovate, raised on a claw; divisions of the large lip very broadly wedge-shaped, irregularly eroded-toothed at the broadly dilated summit, the lateral ones truncate, the middle one 2-lobed.—Moist meadows and banks, Penn. and N. J. to Ill., and south in the mountains. Aug.—Flowers large and showy (violet-purple); the lip paler and 8–10´´ long, variably toothed, but not fringed.
17. CYPRIPÈDIUM, L. Lady's Slipper. Moccason-flower.
Sepals spreading; all three distinct, or in most cases two of them united into one under the lip. Petals spreading, resembling the sepals but usually narrower. Lip a large inflated sac. Column declined; on each side a fertile stamen, with its short filament bearing a 2-celled anther; the pollen loose and pulpy or powdery-granular; on the upper side a dilated-triangular, petal-like but thickish body, which answers to the fertile stamen of other Orchids, and covers the summit of the style; stigma terminal, broad, obscurely 3-lobed, moist and roughish (not smooth and viscid as in the rest of the order). Pollen in most of our species, especially in n. 6, exposed by the conversion of the face of the anther into a viscid, varnish-like film, which adheres to whatever touches it, carrying away some of the pollen.—Root of many tufted fibres. Leaves large, many-nerved and plaited, sheathing at the base. Flowers solitary or few, large and showy. (Name composed of Κύπρις, Venus, and πόδιον, a sock or buskin, i.e. Venus's Slipper.)
§ 1. The three sepals separate; stem leafy; flower solitary, drooping.
1. C. arietìnum, R. Br. (Ram's-head L.) Stem slender (6–10´ high); upper sepal ovate-lanceolate, pointed; the 2 lower and the petals linear and nearly alike (greenish-brown), rather longer than the red and whitish veiny lip (6´´ long), which is somewhat pubescent, especially within, and prolonged at the apex into a short blunt conical point; leaves 3 or 4, elliptical-lanceolate, nearly smooth.—Cold swamps and damp woods, Maine to N. Y., Mich. and Minn., and northward.
§ 2. Two of the sepals united into one under the lip.
[*] Stem leafy to the top, 1–3-flowered; lip slipper-shaped or roundish, much inflated, horizontal, and with a rounded open orifice.
[+] Sepals and linear wavy-twisted petals brownish, pointed, longer than the lip.
2. C. cándidum, Muhl. (Small White Lady's Slipper.) Slightly pubescent, 1-flowered; leaves lance-oblong, acute; petals and sepals greenish, purple-spotted; sepals ovate-lanceolate; lip (not 1´ long) white, striped with purple inside, flattish laterally, convex above; sterile stamen lanceolate.—Bogs, N. Y. and Penn. to Minn., Mo., and Ky.; rare. May, June.
3. C. parviflòrum, Salisb. (Smaller Yellow L.) Stem 1–2° high leaves oval, pointed; sepals ovate or ovate-lanceolate; lip flattish from above, bright yellow (1´ long or less); sterile stamen triangular.—Bogs and low woods, Newf. to Ga., west to Minn. and E. Kan. May, June.—Flowers fragrant; sepals and petals more brown-purple than in the next, into which it seems to pass.