Epiphytal, Acaulescent. Leaves green, radical, leathery in texture, distichous, loriform, obliquely apiculate, the base carinate and equitant. Scapes solitary in the axils, longer than the leaves, green, pilose, terminating in a short sheathing woolly bract from which the blossom emerges. Flowers medium-sized, elegantly venose; dorsal sepal large, oblong-cordiform, ciliated, concave, the apex recurved, blunt, greenish white flushed with carmine and beautifully veined with bright crimson-purple; lateral connate sepals united into one small ovate obtuse sepal, which is whitish with streaks of green and crimson-purple; petals oblong-lanceolate, deflexed and recurved “like the horn of a buffalo”, hairy at the base, white flushed with green, and having longitudinal stripes and a marginal band of crimson-purple, the edge being undulated and ciliated; lip prominent, brownish-green with faint purple reticulations. Staminode orbicular-lunate, greenish white tinted with purple, downy, with a downy proboscis between the horns of the crescent.
Cypripedium Fairrieanum, Lindley, Gardeners’ Chronicle, 1857, 740; Hooker, Botanical Magazine, t. 5024; Van Houtte, Flore des Serres, t. 1244; Bateman, Second Century of Orchidaceous plants, t. 140; Reichenbach fil., Xenia Orchidacea, t. 133; Williams, Orchid Grower’s Manual, 5 ed. 153.
The Cypripediums form a very large genus of Orchids, which is also one of the most useful for decorating our Orchid-houses or plant stoves, as well as for exhibition purposes. Nearly all the species continue long in flower and are of easy cultivation. The plant before us was first flowered by A. Fairrie, Esq., of Aigburth, Liverpool, in 1857, and was exhibited in London by him and named by Dr. Lindley in his honour. Since that time it has become exceedingly rare, and is now to be met with in but very few collections. As far as we are aware it has only been once imported, a circumstance much to be regretted, as it is one of the most distinct and lovely of the whole family. Our drawing was made by M. P. Stroobant from a well-grown plant in the fine collection of Dr. Baddaert, of Ghent, Belgium, who has one of the best collections of Orchids in that country.
Cypripedium Fairrieanum is an evergreen dwarf-growing species, with light green leaves about three inches long. The flowers are produced singly on upright stalks. It blooms during the autumn months and continues in perfection for some considerable time.
This Cypripedium is not so free in its growth as many others, although we have seen it very fine in years gone by, and we are of opinion that if imported plants could only be obtained, cultivators would be able to succeed with it as well as with any other. There is no doubt that on account of the plant being so rare, those who fortunately possess it are too anxious to increase it, and too frequently cut the plants into small pieces, which get into a bad condition and ultimately die. We have found the East India house to afford the best temperature in which to cultivate it, though we have grown it equally well at the warmest end of a Cattleya house. The material used was fibrous peat and charcoal. The pots should be filled three parts full of broken potsherds, a layer of sphagnum moss being placed on the top of the drainage material; and in potting the plant requires to be kept well elevated above the rim of the pot, so that the roots may not become sodden. Not having the thick fleshy pseudobulbs which some Orchids possess to support them, these plants require more attention as regards the application of moisture to the roots. Water should be given judiciously even when the plants are in vigorous growth, as, if too much is applied, the potting material becomes soddened and the plants get sickly. This species does not root so freely as many of the stronger growing Lady’s Slippers and should be grown in a position where plenty of light is obtainable.
Cattleya aurea.—R. P. Percival, Esq., of Southport, has kindly sent us a glorious inflorescence of this splendid novelty, with four fully expanded flowers. This species resembles C. gigas in its growth, while the flowers are somewhat akin to those of C. Dowiana, but the markings on the lip are much brighter, and the golden yellow is much more prevalent than in C. Dowiana; the front part of the lip is bright magenta, while the sepals and petals are not partly rose coloured as in C. Dowiana, but are entirely nankin-yellow. Baron Schröder, of Staines, has also sent us a spike of this great beauty, but the variety differs a little from the preceding.—H. W.
Cypripedium Parishii.—A. Paul, Esq., of Edinburgh, sends us a fine spike of this curious Orchid, bearing six flowers. He informs us that the plant produced four spikes of six blooms each. When flowered in this way, it makes a fine object during the dull time of the year. It requires the same treatment as other Cypripediums, and delights in a good supply of moisture during the growing season.—B. S. W.
