Perhaps, if it were not for the emphasis he places on 
the difference in the position of the labellum, and on 
supposed ‘‘complete geographic isolation’’, Professor 
Fernald would have been satisfied to have accepted an 
already proposed varietal concept.’ Aside from the dis- 
similarity between Malaxis monophyllos var. brachypoda 
and M. monophyllos revealed by the position of the label- 
lum, there may be slight, indeed elusive variations in the 
form of the flower-buds, relative size of the flowers and 
in the comparative length of the pedicels and mature cap- 
sules. Professor Fernald has attempted to reveal these 
variations as important differences by means of photo- 
graphic evidence (Rhodora 35 (1983) tab. 253), but for 
this purpose his material from the Eurasian sources was 
doubtfully conclusive. For example, in the Gray Her- 
barium there is but a single specimen of the Eurasian 
Malawxis monophyllos with mature fruits. From this spec- 
imen Professor Fernald selected the capsules used in his 
illustration of contrasted structures and in making the 
® Morris and Eames in Our Wild Orchids (1929) 358, used a vari- 
etal designation for the American plant and made the combination : 
Malaxis monophyllos Swartz var. brachypoda (Gray) Morris and Eames. 
Professor Fernald would seem to criticize Morris and Eames because 
they used the name ‘‘White Adder’s Mouth’? for Malaxis monophyllos 
var. brachypoda. He admits that his familiarity with the Old World 
M.monophyllos and his conversance with folk-lore do not suffice to 
make it clear to him that this popular name applies to the European 
plant. Asa **bseudonym’’ for the American plant with ** oreenish- 
yellow flowers’’ he regards the name as not descriptive (cf. Rhodora 35 
(1933) 242). However, the name **White Adder’s Mouth’’ has been 
used in American floras. It occurs in Britton and Brown’s Illustrated 
Flora of the Northern United States and Canada; in Wild Flowers of 
New York by Homer D. House and elsewhere, and is not an innova- 
tion on the part of Morris and Eames. European botanists have de- 
scribed the flowers of the Eurasian plant as greenish, yellowish, etc. 
and have indicated this color in their illustrations. Therefore the 
flowers are similar in color to those of the American plant. 
[171 | 
