510 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 19 31 



arranged spike, the sepals curiously arched like a helmet. The 

 morio is among the most attractive of the native orchids. It is 

 well known also as an English species, and at least six others of this 

 attractive genus are found in the British Isles, 



Of the genus Gymnadenia^ the species odoratissima^ 4 to 10 inches 

 high, presents mauve flowers on a long spike that have a pleasant 

 odor. 



Nigritella angustifolia is found throughout Europe. It is 3 to 8 

 inches in height and carries its small dark carmine flowers as a 

 crowded spike. It is found in upland Swiss pastures from 5,000 to 

 8,000 feet above sea level. It is called the vanilla orchid, and has a 

 pronounced odor of that bean. 



Cypripediuin is a genus well known to Americans as ladyslipper, 

 The Swiss species {G. calceolus) closely resembles our own plants. 

 It is found at low levels, not being strictly Alpine. As is well 

 known, species of this beautiful genus are found all over the world 

 (pi. 6). 



The charming butterfly orchids {Platanthera hifolia and chlor- 

 antha) are also widely distributed. Their stemiS are 12 to 30 inches 

 high; the flowers are white to whitish green, arising loosely in a 

 3 to 6 inch spike, and they are both fragrant. 



An orchid that grows on mossy banks and mountain pastures up 

 to 4,000 feet is HerTniniuni monorchism called from its pronounced 

 odor, the musk orchid. It has a pretty " flower," a slender spike 

 with numerous small, yellow-green blooms. 



A curious sub-Alpine plant, found in shady woods up to 4,500 

 feet — at Engelberg, for example — is the birdnest orchid {Neottia 

 nidus-avis L.) The stem is 12 inches high, with loose scales taking 

 the place of leaves. Two or three pale-brown flowers are borne on 

 a 4-inch spike. Its name derives from the dense mass of fibers con- 

 stituting the root system. 



A very pretty orchid, also found throughout Europe, is Limo- 

 dorum dbortivum. The whole plant (12 to 24 inches high, including 

 the large flowers) is violet in color. It is commonly found in pine 

 woods. 



The smallest European orchid is \Qvy rarely seen above Lucerne. 

 This is the bog orchid {Malaxis paludosa). The flowers arc insig- 

 nificant, and the plant is difficult to find in the peat bogs where it 

 grows. 



A very handsome genus with many species, found in the Forest 

 Cantons, is Cephalanthera. C. rubra (red helleborine) may grow 

 to a height of 20 inches, supporting its bright pink flowers in a loose 

 spike. This fine plant prefers the shelter of woods and thickets, 

 growing in a limestone soil. A pure white variety (or perhaps dis- 



