ORCHIDACE^. 



439 



tain particulars in which they all agree. Though 

 in reality sessile, they appear to have each a 

 footstalk, but this footstalk is only the long 

 twisted ovary (c in fig. 146), which is one- 

 celled and many -seeded, 

 and which serves to support 

 the calyx and corolla of 

 the flower, which are both 

 above it. The calyx con- 

 sists of three sepals, one of 

 Fig. 146.-ORCHIS morio. wliich lias the appearance 

 of a hood («), and the others {h h) look like 

 wings. The petals are very disproportionate 

 in their size; two are generally very small, 

 and are only seen peeping beneath the hood of 

 the calyx ; while the third (d)^ which is called 

 the labellum, or lip, is very large, and hangs 

 down. In the centre of the flower is a singu- 

 lar mass, called the column, composed of the 

 stamens and pistil, grown together (see a in Jig. 

 147). In this column there is one perfect 

 anther (^), and two im- 

 perfect ones {cc). The 

 perfect anther consists 

 of a pouch or bag, w hich, 

 when opened, displays 

 two stalked masses of 



Fig. 147— Pollen Masses of the globular pollcU, OnO 



of which {d) is pulled 



