PL. 86. CYPRIPEDIUM PARISHII.
CYPRIPEDIUM PARISHII.
[[Plate 86].]
Native of Moulmein.
Epiphytal. Stem short, erect, leafy. Leaves coriaceous, loriform, eight to ten inches long, and two inches broad, channelled and equitant at the base, obliquely obtuse and bifid at the apex, distichous, deep full green. Scape stout, erect, densely hairy, green, two feet long or upwards, five to six-flowered, each flower issuing from a semi-amplexicaul boat-shaped green, ovate, acute, glabrous bract, ciliated at the tip, the lower ones larger. Flowers singular in their conformation, not brilliant in colour, but pleasing in character, and long enduring; dorsal sepal one and a half inch long, erect, ovate-oblong acute, somewhat keeled, the sides revolute near the base, giving it the appearance of being clawed, the tip somewhat recurved, greenish straw-colour tinged with purple; lateral sepals connate, greener, the back marked with two distinct green keels meeting at the point; petals narrowly strap-shaped, widest below, and thence tapering to the point, four inches long, whitish green at the base, with scattered black spots, and a purple edge, which widens upwards till about half the length, when they become wholly of a glossy purple on both sides, twisted, the margin having here and there a black hairy wart; lip one and a half inch long, the basal half narrowed from the infolding of the edges, deeply stained outside with purple, spotted with purple within, and furnished with purple hairs directed backwards, the pouch oblong, blunt, with an expanded mouth, and two erect ear-like angles projecting upwards and outwards, pale green, freely stained with purple. Staminode large, depressed, obovate bifid, with a blunt spur near the base, green, whitish at the edge, hairy.
Cypripedium Parishii, Reichenbach fil., in Flora, 1869, 322; Id. in Gardeners’ Chronicle, 1869, 814, with a woodcut; Hooker fil., Botanical Magazine, t. 5791; Williams, Orchid Grower’s Manual, 5 ed., 156.
The genus Cypripedium is now an extensive family of Orchids in which many new species and varieties are constantly appearing, some of them importations, but many of them the results of the well-applied skill of the hybridiser, through whose agency some really good and interesting additions to the older kinds have been, and are being made. It forms a most useful group of Orchids, most of them being of easy cultivation, and the flowers lasting a long time if due care is taken of them. Some Orchid growers discard them because of the stiff and formal outlines of their flowers. That character certainly does not apply to the Moulmein species we now introduce to our readers, as it is of a singularly graceful appearance, as may be seen from our sketch. The illustration was taken from a fine spike that was forwarded to us by A. Paul, Esq., Gilmore Place, Edinburgh, a gentleman who has a very good collection, and is one of those amateurs who are fond of, and takes a personal interest in their plants. Mr. Paul has exhibited some well-grown specimens at the Edinburgh shows during the past few years, and has taken some of the highest honours.
Cypripedium Parishii was discovered and introduced by the Rev. C. Parish, after whom Professor Reichenbach has named it; most of the plants originally collected, with many other Orchidic rarities, being, it would appear, destroyed by the unruly elephants, who threw off their loads, and trampled them under foot. It is an evergreen herbaceous plant, of good habit, with deep green foliage, about a foot in length. The flower-spike proceeds from the centre of the young growths when nearly completed, and bears several flowers, sometimes as many as six, the sepals being broad and greenish like the lip, and the petals long, undulated, greenish white at the base, the upper portion deep purple, and the margin furnished with hairy warts. It blooms during the summer and autumn months, according as the completion of its growth may take place earlier or later in the season; and the blossoms last for several weeks in perfection.
The plant thrives when grown in the East India house. We have also found it to do well at the warmest end of the Cattleya house. It does best when grown in a pot, with good fibrous peat or good loam, mixed with lumps of charcoal, and with thorough drainage. It requires a liberal supply of water during the growing season, and when at rest should not be kept dry, since it has no thick fleshy bulbs to support the foliage, and, moreover, it is nearly always growing.
This species may be propagated by dividing the plant after it has started into growth, leaving one old-established crown at the back of the young growth; place the divided parts in small pots until they are established, and then remove them into larger ones as they require it, but avoid overpotting them.
