90 PLATANTHERA FIMBRIATA. GREAT FRINGED ORCHIS. 



with Habcnaria, as he does not regard the separating characters 

 of full generic importance. The leading difference is that 

 the two glands are approximate in the one section, and widely 

 divergent in the other. There is, however, so little natural dis- 

 tinction between these and several other genera from the true 

 Orchis, that most authors have to explain the reasons for the 

 adoption of the several designations, and each branch of the 

 Orchis family may feel a pride in the family history of the 

 ancient name. Our species, indeed, approaches in general 

 aspect many of the European species that have made their 

 mark in the pages of polite literature. Thus in "Hamlet" the 

 queen describes the manner of Ophelia's death, and says, — 



" There is a willow growing o'er a brook, 

 That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream, 

 Near which fantastic garlands she did make 

 Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples," 



which last, she says, are also called " Dead Men's Fingers." 

 " Long Purples " and " Dead Men's Fingers " were common 

 names applied to many species of the genus Orchis in England, 

 but little different in appearance from the one illustrated here. 

 Our species has not a root quite so characteristic of a " dead 

 man's fingers" as some of the English ones which suggested 

 the name; but as we see in our Fig, i, there is enough resem- 

 blance to claim association with the original idea. Rev. Mr. 

 Ellacomb, writing in Mr. Robinson's " Garden," shows that the 

 name, in allusion to the death-like flesh of the roots, is of great 

 antiquity. He quotes an old ballad as follows : — 



" Then round the meddowes did she walke. 

 Catching cache flower by y" stalke, 

 Such as within the meddowes grew, 

 As Deadman's Thumb and Harebell blew ; 

 And as she pluckt them, still cried she, 

 ' Alas ! there 's none e'er loved like me.' " 



In our country the former botanical name. Orchis, has been 

 adopted in popular parlance ; hence this species is known as 



