202 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



M. ophioglossoides. Nutt. Adder-mouth. Stem or scape 

 about 4 inches high, 1 -leafed, and a leafy sheath at the base ; 

 flowers many, minute, greenish-white ; leaf ovate, embracing the 

 stem ; root bulbous ; roots of trees ; June. 



Cypripedium. L. 18. 2. Ladies' Slipper, or Venus's Shoe. 



From the Greek for Venus and slipper, on account of the form 

 of the hp ; a genus of 10 species, 5 in North America, and 3 in 

 this State. Lip ventricose, inflated, obtuse ; 2 under segments 

 of the floral envelope united ; column terminating in a triangular 

 lobe. In the other genera, the 2 lateral anthers are sterile, and 

 the middle one fertile, while in this the 2 outer anthers are fertile, 

 and the middle one sterile and enlarged. Beautiful plants, with 

 singular, attractive flowers. 



C. spedabile. Sw. Showy Ladies' Slipper. Abundant in 

 woods, wet, or somewhat dry, with a stem near 20 inches high, 

 leafy, bearing sometimes 2, usually 1, purple and whitish-purple 

 flower of variegated hues ; lip large and fine ; May and June. 



C. pubescens. Sw. Yellow Ladies' Slipper. Stem leafy, 

 1-2 feet high, flowers yellow and slightly greenish ; leaves and 

 stem pubescent ; lip compressed, shorter than the petals ; woods ; 

 May. 



C. humile. Sw. Low Ladies' Slipper. Leaves radical, 2, 

 oblong, obtuse ; scape a foot high or less, with one large, variegated 

 flower ; lip purple, shorter than the segments, cleft before ; shaded 

 woods ; May. C. acaule, Ait. 



ORDER 244. JUNCEiE. Rush Tribe. 



This order contains the plants intermediate between the petal- 

 oideous and the glumaceous, being like the former in their floral 

 envelope, and like the latter in their texture. The plants are 

 spread widely over the world, and most abound in colder regions, 

 or colder soils. 



Calyx or corolla 6-parted, glume-like, or chaffy ; stamens 6 or 



