1921] Ames, — Notes on New England Orchids, — I. Spiranthes 75 



ably essential to germination, are present, growth begins in the follow- 

 ing season. The protocorm stage is soon reached and by autumn 

 one or more leaves and a slender root have been produced. In the 

 next growing season the little plants, if conditions are favorable, form 

 their first flowers. These are borne in slender few-flowered racemes 

 that represent a stage of development and not a permanent charac- 

 teristic. The root-system now begins to increase and in the next 

 growing season is sufficiently strong to support an elongated many- 

 flowered raceme. Among the plants that represent any one. of these 

 stages of development normal variation may be expected, this de- 

 pending to a large extent on the favorable or unfavorable influences 

 that have prevailed. If, with these remarks in mind, we regard the 

 Spiranthes population of any given area, the apparent variation is at 

 once explained and no longer awakens a feeling of uncertainty as to 

 the specific limitations imposed by conservative opinion. 



It should be remembered that most orchids, at least most of 

 those of which we know the stages of development, rarely produce 

 flowers until after the vegetative system has become well established. 

 The genus Cordula, for example, a genus allied to our native genus 

 Cypripedium, produces strong growths of leaves and roots before the 

 first flower is formed. Under ordinary conditions there is very little 

 variation after the first flower is produced if the plants are under 

 similar and favorable influences. If variations occur they are truly 

 varietal, in a horticultural sense, and, as in the case of Cordula in- 

 signis var. Sandem, may be perpetuated by self fertilization. Spir- 

 anthes cernua, so far as I have observed it, is one of the exceptions to 

 this r'ule and in each flowering season presents a different habital and 

 floral aspect until the limit of vigor of the vegetative system is at- 

 tained. If proof of this is desired it is only necessary to dig up the 

 roots. In young plants these will be found very slender and few in 

 number. In very slender plants with abbreviated few-flowered 

 racemes it is not unusual to find a single root, this representing the 

 first root developed from the protocorm of the preceding year. In 

 vigorous plants with many-flowered racemes the roots will be found 

 stout and numerous and will furnish conclusive evidence of the fact 

 that the plants have attained a development representative of several 

 years' growth. Although I have been unable to study S. gracilis 

 from the earliest seedling stages, my observations lead me to believe 

 that it is comparable to S. cernua in its development and that the 



