The "Lady's Slipper" tribe of the orchid family varies widely both as regards the habit and beauty of each individual; for while there is nothing very attractive about the flowers of the North American species (S. pubescens and others of a similar nature) though their forms are quaint, there are far more attractive species from the East Indies, such as C, Spiceranum. Many cultivators seek for only the showiest varieties of Cypripedium, while in fact each species has its own charms. C. Spicerianum has not been in cultivation more than ten years, and many collections are still without a specimen. It was first flowered in England by Mr. Herbert Spicer, an orchid amateur of Godalming, in Surrey, who received it amongst other unnamed species from India. Being new, it was named after him by the late Prof. Reichenbach. Shortly afterwards the collect-ors who are employed by English orchid merchants, discovered a large quantity of the species, and shipped them for cultivation in England.

Cypripedium Spicerianum #1

This species produces leaves from six to nine inches in length, slightly wavy at the margins; the upper surface is a dark green, the upper part spotted with a dark red near the base. The flower scapes are from eight to twelve inches in length, somewhat slender, but quite erect, bearing a single flower. The flowers are three inches across; the dorsal sepal is rather broad, the edges being recurved, giving it a folded appearance. It is almost pure white, with the exception of a purple line running lengthwise through the center, and at the base there is a green blotch of pretty olive color, tinged with dull red spots. The lower sepal is greenish-white and rather broad ; the petals or lateral lobes are narrow, curving forward and very deeply undulated at the margins. They are a yellowish-green, with a dull red mac-ulation, the midrib being crimson. The Slipper is of a good size, somewhat bell-shaped and a shiny green : the staminoid is crimson-purple, with white margin.

C. Spicerianum is grown in the East Indian house at a temperature of 60° to 700 Fahr., in compost of peat, loam and sphagnum. The plants do best in shallow pans, with about one-third drainage. Plants of this species, like the majority of East Indian cypripediums, have no particular resting period; therefore, water may be given the whole year round.

Kew, England. P. Weathers.