530 CXL. OilCHiDACE^. * Liparis. 



Ova. l-celleJ, with 3 parietal placentie. OvnUs indefinite. 



Sty. consolidated with the stamens. Stig. a viscid cavity in front of the column. 



F/-.— Capsule 3-ribbed, 3-valved. Sds. many, without albimien. 



Genera 394, species 3000 ? They are amo.ng the most interesting and curious of plants, almost alwaya 

 remarkable tor the grotesque form of their tortuous roots and stems, and the fragrance, brilliancy and odd 

 structure of the dowers. , . , , 



The Orchidaceae are natives of every part of the world. In the tropics multitudes of them are epipn- 

 ytxis, growing on living trees or decaying timber. 



'J'his order is remai-Rable for those qualities only which please the eye. Many of its species are culti- 

 vated for ornament, but few of them possess eiilier active or useful properties. The salep of commerce 

 is u nutritive mucilaginous substance afforded by the roots of some Asiatic Orchis. The aromatic va- 

 Tiilla, used to flavor chocolate, &c., is the fruit of the West Indian Vanilla claviculata. 



Conspectus of the Genera. 



^ cauline. 

 Novate, ^radical, 

 f Leaf solitary, {ensiform (rarely 2). 

 I ^ near base of stem. 



I Leaves 2 only, ( near middle of stem. 

 I I radical, ^ ringent. 



( Flowers | < Sepals I erect. 



I several. (.Leaves several, ( cauline. Fls. 3 or 4. 

 ■ Spur 0. ( Flower solitary, lip bearded within. 



J PoUinia -2. Fls. bracteate 

 Q Fertile \ 1 flatfish. I Pollinia 4. Fls. bractless. 



Leaves I < anth. 1. iLip spurred at base, i! ventricose. Flower and leaf solitary 

 or more. ( Anthers 2 fertile, middle one sterile, petaloid. Lip saccate. 



1. ll 



Microstylia. i 



Aplectrum. 4 



Calopogon. lo 



Liparis. 'Z 



Listera. 13 



Goodyera. 12 



Spiranthes. 11 



Calopogon. 10 



Pogonia. 9 



Orchis. 7 



Tipularia. 6 



Calypso. a 

 Cypripedium . 14 



Arethusa. 8 



Corallorhiza. 3 



( Plants green. Flowers solitary. Lip bearded within. 

 Leaves 0. I Plants destitute of green herbage. Flowers racemose. 



Section 1. Pollen cohering in grains whicli finally become waxy, 

 and are definite in number. 



1. MICROSTtLIS. Nutt. 



Gr. jiiKpos, little, (TTvXoi, style ; alluding to the slender column. 



Segments of the perianth distinct, petals filiform ; lip sessile, 

 concave, erect, truncate and bidentate at summit ; column minute ; 

 pollinia 4, loose. 



1. M. oPHioGLOssoiDEs. Nutt. (Malaxis orph, WllM. M. unifolia. 

 Michx.) — Lf. solitary, ovate, amplexicaul ; s^. 5-angled ; roc. short, obtuse, 



capitate ; pedicels much longer than the flowers. — A small plant, in woods, &c.. 

 Can. and N. States. Stem 5 — 9' high, with a single leaf a little below the 

 middle. This leaf is rather acute, smooth, ovate or oval, about 2J' in length, 1 

 in width. At the base of the stem is an abrupt sheath. Flowers whitish, 

 minute, numerous, in a terminal raceme an inch or more in length, dense at 

 top. Bracts minute. Pedicels about 4" long. June. 



2. M. MONOPHYLLos, Liudl. (M. brachypoda. Gray. Malaxis mon. 

 Willd.) — Leaf solitary, ovate, sheathing at base; rac. elongated, with 



numerous flowers on short pedicels ; bracts minute ; sep. acute, spreading ; late- 

 ral pet. reflexed, linear ; Up triangular-hastate, cucullate, acuminate with a 

 recurved point. — In shady SAvamps, N. Y., rare. Prof Hadley, Dr. Gray. Stem 

 2—6' high, 3-angled, with a subspicate raceme of 20 — 40 small, greenish 

 flowers. July. 



2. LIPARIS. Rich. 



Gr. Xiirapoiy elegant, shining ; a term characteristic of these plants. 



Segments of the perianth distinct, sublinear, spreading or deflex- 

 ed ; lip spreading, flat, ascending, often exterior ; column winged ; 

 pollinia 4, parallel with each other, without pedicels or glands. 



1. L. LiLiFOLiA. Rich. (Malaxis lilifolia. Sw.) Tway-blade. 



Lvs. 2, ovate-lanceolate; scape triangular; inner pet. filiform, reflexed; 

 lip concave, obovate, acute at the tip. — In wet Avoods, Can. to Car., Ohio. 

 Leaves radical, 3 — 6' long, } — i as wide, rather acute, tapering into a sheath- 

 ing base. Scape about (>' high. Flowers 10 — 20, in a terminal, rather showy 

 raceme. Pedicels near an inch in length. The 3 sepals greenish-white, linear. 

 2 upper petals capillary, yellowish-white. Lip much larger than the other 

 petals, white. Jiuic. 



