GtNANDRS. 329 



turned posteriorly and upwards) ; the others are entirely wanting 

 (indicated by * in Fig. 318 A) or present as staminodes (Fig. 

 318 A,<rcr) (except Apostasiece,Cypripedilex}; the filaments are united 

 with the style to form a column (Fig. 318 5), the stylar-column l 

 (gynostemium), and the anther (a) is thus placed on its apex and 

 exactly behind or over the stigma (s). The anther is 4-locular ; 

 the pollen-grains do not separate (except Apostasieue, Cypripedilece) 

 but remain united either in tetrads or in masses, which correspond 

 to a pollen-mother-cell (Fig. 320 C, D, E) or the pollen-grains, 

 formed in each of the two anther-halves, remain united and form 

 one or a few wax-like masses (pollen-masses, pollinia). The 3 

 carpels form a unilocular ovary with 3 parietal, deeply bifid placenta? 

 (except Apostasies, Selenipedilum). Only the two lateral carpels 

 are prolonged and developed into the stigma (Fig. 318 7>, s), 

 while the one lying in the median line, which is situated just 

 within the anther (Fig. 318 A), becomes either rudimentary or 

 developed into the " rustellnm '' (" a small beak "), on which the 

 sticky bodies (glandule) arise ; by aid of these the heavy, connected 

 pollen-masses may be glued to the insects which visit the flower, 

 and pollination is thus secured (in Apostasiece and Cypripedilew the 

 3 carpels each contribute to the formation of the stigma). The 

 fruit is a capsule which most often dehisces by 6 valves, 3 of which 

 are broader and bear the placenta?, and 3 alternating with them 

 are narrower and barren (except Vanilla}. The very numerous 

 and exceedingly small seeds have no endosperm, and have a some- 

 what spherical embryo without any trace of external organs. The 

 testa is membranous and loose. 



The Orchids are all perennial herbs with diverse habits and 

 varying morphological structure (see the genera) ; the leaves are 

 scattered, of the usual Liliaceous form, and the inflorescences in 

 all cases are racemes or spikes (sometimes branched), with subtend- 

 ing bracts, but without bracteoles. 



The forms which are the least modified are described first. 



I. APOSTASIES. The perianth-leaves are almost alike and free. 

 The column is straight, with 3 equally-developed stigmas. Neu- 

 wiedia has 3 perfect stamens (1 median of the outer whorl, and 

 2 lateral of the inner whorl) ; Apostasia has only 2 perfect (inner 

 lateral) and one barren (the median of the outer whorl), which how- 



1 According to Pfitzer, the column is the prolongation of the floral axis 

 beyond the insertion of the perianth, and is not formed by the coalescence of 

 sporophylls (filament and style). 



