The Orchid Review (Volume 3) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1895. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CURIOUS CYPRIPEDIUM INSIGNE. The annexed illustration shows the remarkable plant of Cypripedium insigne which flowered a year ago in the collection of W. M. Appleton, Esq., of Weston-super-Mare, as recorded at page 11. It is hardly necessary to add that the figure is exact in every particular, having been reproduced by the well-known process from a photograph sent by Mr. Appleton. It is one of the so-called "montanum," forms, but one flower Fig. 15--Cypr1ped1um 1ns1gne Abnormal. alone is normal, the petals of all the others being transformed into lips, which clasp the normal lip as here shown. The anthers of these five flowers are completely wanting, or to speak more correctly, they have wandered from their proper course and coalesced with the petals to form two additional lips. The column and staminode are both smaller than usual. The cause of the malformation is at present uncertain, though Mr. Appleton is inclined to attribute it to the plant being rather pot-bound. It remains to be seen if the peculiarity is permanent. In any case it is very remarkable, though floriculturally no one will venture to consider it an improvement. Another curious example has flowered with Messrs. Hurst & Son, Purbage Nurseries, near Hinckley. A scape has developed a leaf-like bract, nearly four inches long, and two flowers. The upper flower is normal, but the lower only has the lateral sepals free, and the staminode suppressed, while the lip is practically reduced to the two united side-lobes; being channelled underneath, bilobed at the apex, and the front lobe wanting. A third curious malformation of C. insigne, which appeared in the collection of T. W. Swinburne, Esq., was described at page 322, and a fourth from the collection of Mrs. Barton, N. Devon, has lost the staminode, ...