ORCHIDACE^E 



THE PLANT: from a bulb, erect; the scape from five inches 

 to ten inches high, hairless, with three brownish bracts 

 that sheath the lower part. 



THE SOLITARY LEAF: light green; linear; four inches to 

 six inches long, with very few, scattered silky hairs; obtuse 

 at the apex; clasping three quarters up the stem; entire; 

 many nerved; parallel-veined. 



THE FLOWERS: large, solitary; the sepals oblong, acute or 

 obtuse; the petals oblong; the obtuse lip, which is usually 

 drooping, also oblong, with a conspicuously broad apex, 

 narrowed toward the base, plain or spotted and streaked 

 with magenta-crimson, with three to five fringed yellow 

 crests, the margin minutely fringed; the petal-like column 

 attached to the lip is broadened above, toothed and 

 topped with a lid-like anther. As Mr. Mathews says, 

 "A large single-flowered and delicately-scented orchid, the 

 magenta-crimson petals and sepals of which point upward 

 like the fingers of a half -open hand viewed in profile." 

 Albinos have been found. 



THE FRUIT: a capsule. 



Of certain plants the Nantucket people seem to feel 

 particularly that they are ' 'natives," and of this delicate 

 orchid they are deservedly proud, for it is one of the most 

 dainty and also one of the most beautiful of the Nantucket 

 orchids, possessing among its recommendations, a sweet 

 odour in addition to charm of colour and grace of form. 



ORCHIDACE^E ORCHID FAMILY 



Spiranthes Beckii, Lindl. 

 White Little Ladies' Tresses. 



July-September 



Spiranthes: composed of Greek words for "a coil" or "a 



curl," and "a flower." 

 Beckii: in honour of Lewis C. Beck. 



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