438 ORCHIDACEiE. [part ii. 



gular or flat. Limnocharis Plumieri is a very 

 handsome Brazilian aquatic belonging to this 

 order. 



ORDER CLXXXIL— JUNCAGINE^.— THE ARROW- 

 GRASS TRIBE. 



Insignificant bog plants, with grassy leaves, 

 and central spikes or racemes of greenish yellow 

 flowers. 



ORDER CLXXXIIL— ORCHIDACEiE. 



The plants belonging to this order may be 

 divided into two kinds, those that grow in the 

 earth, and those which require to have their 

 roots suspended in the air ; the latter being the 

 beautiful tropical plants called Orchideous Epi- 

 phytes. Most of the terrestrial Orchidacese are 

 British plants belonging to several genera, the 

 most curious of which are Orchis, Habenaria, 

 Ophrys, Aceras, Noettia, Epipactis, and ^la- 

 laxis. Nearly all the British Orchidacese have 

 tuberous roots, which remain above ground, 

 a new tuber being formed every year. The 

 leaves are alternate, with an entire margin, 

 without any footstalk, and sheathing the stem 

 at the base. The flowers are produced in a 

 spike, furnished wdth bracts, and though they 

 are very irregular in their forms, there are cer- 



