452 oucuidace;i:, (ouciiis family.) 



2. B. capitata. Stems setaceous, simple ; leaves sulmlate, scattered ; 

 flowers several in a terminal cluster, white, tinged with blue ; perianth .3-anglcd, 

 wingless, the interior lobes linear, erect ; seeds linear-oblong, s]Mrally striate. 

 (Tripterella capitata, Michx.) — Low or swampy pine barrens, Florida to North 

 CaroUua. Sept. - i^'ov. — Stems 2' - 6' high. 



2. APTERIA, Nutt. 



Perianth terete, tubular-bell-shaped, 6-clcft, witli tlic 3 interior lobes smaller. 

 Stamens 3, very sliort, opposite tlie interior lobes of tiie piriunth, the filaments 

 flat and orbicular at the apex : anthers closely adhering to tlie globose stigmas. 

 Ovary 1-celled, with tlirec 2-winged parietal plaeeuta2. Capsule obovate, split- 

 ting from the base into three valves, which remain attached to the apex of the 

 persistent placentae. Seeds ovoid. — A small perennial herb, with subulate 

 bract-like leaves, and scattered nodding flowers. 



1. A. setacea, Nutt. Deep shady woods, along the margins of swamps, 

 Florida, Georgia, and westward. Sept. and Oct. — Stem erect or ascendinc:, 

 purple, filiform, simple or branched, 2' -6' high. Leaves scattered. Flowers 

 few, distant, on nodding pedicels. Perianth white, 5" Iwiig. 



Order 142. ORCIIIDACE^. (Orchis Family.) 



Perennial herbs, with simple stems, from thick fibrous or tuberous roots, 

 nerved leaves, and irregular often showy flowers. — Porlantli G-parted, 

 united below with the 1-celled ovary; the three outer divisions (calyx) 

 and commonly two of the inner ones (petals) similar in form ; but the 

 third, posterior, or, by the twisting of the ovary, anterior one (^Lahellum or 

 Lip) differs from the others in form, and oflen bears a spur or prominence 

 at the base beneath. Stamens 3, united with the style into a column, 

 one or (in Cypripediuni) two only bearing a 2-celk'd anther. Pollen- 

 grains cohering in 2, 4, or 8 Avaxy or powdery masses {Pullinin'). Caj)- 

 sule with three parietal placenta3, splitting at the sides into three valves. 

 Seeds very numerous, minute, covered with a loose membranaceous testa. 

 Albumen none. — Plants mostly smooth and more or less succulent. 

 Leaves almost always alternate, sheathing and entire. Stems h'afy or 

 scape-like. Flowers bractcd, solitary, spiked, or racemed, and remark- 

 able for their various and singular forms. 



Synopsis. 



I. Anther solitary, fixed to the apex of the column like n llil, dwlduous. 



Tribe I. MAI^AXIDRi'R. — Pollen in smooth waxy masses, without sialics or conneot- 

 ing tissue. — Hoots tuberous. 



• .Stems leafy. 



1. MICUOSTYLI?. I-lp ronlfito or snciltntc. Column minute, 2-tooHiC(l at the apex. 



2. Lll'AHlS. Lip eotlro. Coluuiu uiouguted, iuuurvud, murtfinud at the apex. 



