ORCHIDS ON LONG ISLAND. lyg 



In July also appears the rival of H. blepJiariglottis, //. ciliaris, whose 

 deep orange-colored flowers grow in an even denser spike than those 

 of the White Fringed. These, too, thrive in very marshy ground — at 

 Babylon, L. I., only a few feet from the shore of the Great South 

 Bay. H. grandiflora and H. psycodcs are found farther in land; they 

 closely resemble one another, both being of a soft shade of lavender. 

 The former, however, is much larger, the flower about three-fourths 

 of an inch in length. The stems are stifle, bearing oval leaves, and 

 the flowers are decidedly fragrant. 



Before the Habenarias have faded entirely away, appear the small 

 Grass-leaved Lady's-tresses [Gyrostachys prcecox) These abound in 

 meadows or grass, and the much twisted spikes of thick, waxy little 

 flowers last often for several weeks. 



In September and October follow the Hooded Lady's-tresses, 

 Gyrostachys Rovianzoffiana and G. cernua. Both are much stouter 

 and larger in growth than G. prcscox. The former, too, is very 

 fragrant, growing in rather swampy ground. G. ceriiua, however, 

 the Nodding Lady's-tresses, is found in abundance even in the salt 

 meadows, but it is entirely devoid of fragrance. 



The Lady's tresses are all white or greenish in color, the 

 flowers borne in a spike, generally in three rows, which may be 

 plainly seen by looking down at them from above. They are pecu- 

 liarly thick and waxy; the tiny lip, the flower's most conspicuous 

 part, is crisped and veined with lines of dark green, most pronounced 

 in G. ccrniia. The sepals are usually coherent at the top. The stem 

 varies from five to twelve inches in height, is bracted, and in some 

 species the long leaf arising from its base has perished ere the flower 

 arrivts at maturity 



I have made but a slight mention of some of our most familiar 

 orchids; slight when I consider how much both of work and pleasure 

 lies open to the student in this department of our botany, and not 

 only to the student, but to the amateur flower lover as well, for among 

 our native orchids are many which are calculated to excite our deepest 

 admiration. 



Orchids I think possess a subtler charm than any other class 

 of flowers, and it is with the greatest pleasure that I have ob- 

 served a rapidly increasing interest in and familiarity with them. 

 So that soon, I hope, we shall see our Peramiums, Cypripediums, 

 Orchises, and Habenarias, as universally known and appreciated as 

 their cultivated sisters, the Laelias, Dendrobiums, Cattleyas and Odon- 

 toglossums. 



Babylon, L. I. 



