ORCHIDACE.E. (ORCHIS FAMILY.) 477 



lobed. Capsule splitting at the apex into three valves. — Radical leaves 

 crowded and grass-like, or none ; those of the stem minute, scale-like. Flow- 

 ers racemose or clustered. 



1. B. biflora, L. Stem simple, or forked above, 1 - several-flowered ; 

 leaves subulate, scattered ; periantii blue, broadly 3-winged ; seeds oblong, 

 striate. — Gra.ssy or mossy margins of swamps and ponds, Florida to North 

 Carolina. Sept. - Nov. — Stem T - 5' high. In this and the following species 

 the seeds escape through irregular lateral fissures. 



2. B. capitata, Chapm. Stems setaceous, simple; leaves subulate, 

 scattered ; flowers several in a terminal cluster, wiiite, tinged with blue ; peri- 

 anth wingless ; seeds linear oblong, spirally striate. — Low pine barrens, Flor- 

 ida to North Carolina. Sept. - Nov. — Stems 2' - 6' high. 



2. APTERIA, Nutt. 



Perianth terete, tnbular-bell-sliaped, with tiie 3 interior lobes smaller. Sta- 

 mens 3, very sliort ; the filaments fiat and orbicular at the apex : anthers 

 closely adhering to the globose stigmas. Ovary 1 -celled, with three 2-winged 

 parietal jjlacentie. Capsule obovate, splitting from the Ijase 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 nod- 

 ding flowers. 



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

 Florida, Georgia, and westward. Sept. -Oct. — Stem purple, simple or 

 branched, 2' - 8' high. Leaves scattered. Flowers few, distant, on nodding 

 pedicels. Perianth white, 5" long. 



Order 144. ORCHIDACE^E. (Orchis Family.) 



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

 roots, nerved leaves, and irregular often showy flowers. — Perianth 6- 

 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 

 (la helium or lip) differs from the others in form, and often bears a 

 spur or prominence at the base beneath. Stamens 3, united with the 

 style into a column, one or (in Cypripedium) two only bearing a 2- 

 celled anther. Pollen grains cohering in 2, 4, or 8 waxy or powdery 

 masses (pollinia). Capsule with three parietal placentfe, 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. Leaved almost always alternate, 

 sheathing and entire. Stems leafy or scape-like. Flowers bracted, 

 solitary, spiked, or racemed, and remarkable for their various and sin- 

 gular forms. 



