THE ORCHIDS OF NORTHERN MAINE. 



List of species with descriptions and notes on distribution. 



By Olof O. Nylander.* 



The soil of the eastern part of Aroostook County has long been 

 noted for its fertility, and the many beautiful flowers that grew 

 originally in our forests amply prove it to be so. The strip of 

 country lying south of the 47th north parallel and west of the 68th 

 meridian, including the towns of Caribou, New Sweden, Woodland, 

 Perham and Westmanland Plantation is exceptionally rich in the 

 varieties of native plants. 



The Bangor & Aroostook Railroad station in Caribou is at an 

 elevation of about 407 feet. The Bangor & Aroostook station at 

 New Sweden is at an elevation of 700 feet and the hills in the im- 

 mediate vicinity rise to above 1000 feet. 



When the Aroostook River Valley was first settled, about one 

 hundred years ago, there were many trees and plants growing which 

 are practically exterminated today. Originally our flora and fauna 

 were of the forest types and everything grew under shelter and 

 shade ; so when the forest was cut and burned, all the delicate and 

 beautiful colored flowers disappeared and the imported European 

 weeds are taking their places. 



The early settlers were largely guided in selecting their lots of 

 land by the forest and flowers that grew upon it. Many of the 

 plants were used for medical purposes ; so the pioneers had much 

 more knowledge of the native flowers than the present generation 

 has. 



I first came to Caribou in July, 1883, and have made it my special 

 interest to study and collect all the information possible about the 

 geology, paleontology, conchology and botany of Maine, and espe- 

 cially of Aroostook County. 



We often read in publications on botany or travel, or in novels 

 and florists' catalogues, of strange and beautiful Orchids from many 

 parts of the world, and the word Orchis has become an expression 

 for something elegant and novel. 



It is a strange fact that so few know we have around Caribou 

 about thirty species of Orchids, some very beautiful in colors and 

 strange in appearance ; and I hope that by careful search we shall 

 find a few more. Many of the Orchids are rarely seen, and they 

 have never received popular names ; so the only way to make these 

 gems of Nature popular is to have good illustrations made of them 

 and the localities where they grow. 



* In this article Mr. Nylander follows Dr. Britton's classific"tion and that 

 of Dr. Homer D. House. State Botanist of New York, in his recent work on 

 the "Wild Flowers of New York". 



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