88 THE PLANT WORLD. 



M 



NATIVE ORCHIDS. 



By Frank Dobbin. 



ANY members of the Oichidaceae are native to New England 

 and the middle states. Baldwin in his monogra})h on the 

 Orchids of New England gives over forty. Comparatively 

 few however, can be found in any one locality. In this locality, eastern 

 New York, they are all rare, if we except the Spiranthes and one or 

 two Habenarias: but a diligent search will usually be rewarded by the 

 finding of a few of the native species. 



The first Cypripedium to ajipear is the stemless Lady's Slipper 

 Cypripediiim acmile. It is usually found in swamps or at least in shaded 

 situations. We have seen it growing in profusion on the summit of 

 the Green Mountains in Vermont, where by the way, its roots were 

 gathered and dried for medicinal purposes under the local name of 

 valerian. 



The Yellow Lady's Slipper, C. jmhescens, is generally in bloom 

 about the same time as the purple one, and is usually found on higher 

 ground. I know of one clump that comes up annually on a sunny rail- 

 way embankment. A strange place for such a shy plant to choose for 

 its home. 



The White Lady's Slipi)er or Moccasin flower, C. specfahile, is a 

 little later than the other two, and can usually be found in cold peat 

 swamps. It is worth going a long distance to see, and the day when 

 the enthusiast catches sight of his first group is one long to be remem- 

 bered. 



We found the Grass Pink, Calopoyon 2)>(l<iJt^Mv>< and Pogonia 

 ophioglossoide-H growing in the same swamp as Cypripedium i<pt'ci(d>il<\ 

 but in a more open situation. The delicate rose-tinted flowers of the 

 Pogonia were in great profusion with here and there a stem of the more 

 gaudy Calopogon. 



In one spot only have we found Arethum hidhom. This is 

 where there was evidently a shallow lake not man}'^ years ago; but it 

 is now overgrown with sphagmun moss and partly covered with 

 the low brushes of the Pale Laurel, Kamlia glauca. Here we find a 

 few of the almost naked scapes of the Arethum, Avith their solitary 

 floAvers, rising from the damp moss. 



In July the Purple Fringed Orchid, Ilahenaria psycode^ may be 

 found in nearly every meadow. Some years it is much more abundant 



