S&'i ORCHIDE^. 



of the scales, one-celled, two-valved, opening round the apex 

 on discharging the pollen. The starch of the pith resemhles 

 that of sago under the microscope. 



Chemical eomj^osition. — The bracts or scales contain, in a 

 dried state, much albuminous and mucilaginous matter soluble 

 in water, but no alkaloid or other principle that would account 

 for its reputed narcotic action. 



ORCHIDE^. 



ORCHIS LATIFOLIA, Linn. 



Fig. — F/. Br. 924; Engl. Bot. 33., f. 2308; Ecichk Fl 

 Germ, 'xiii., f, 50. Marsli Palmate Orcliis {Eng.). 



Hab.— Persia, Afghanistan, Nepal^ .Cashmere, and Europe 



ORCHIS LAXIFLORA, Lam. 



Fig. — ? Boiss. FL Orient. t\, p. 71, 



fJab. — Persia and Afghanistan. The tubers. 



Vernacular, — Salab-misri, Salap-misri (Hind,), Shala-mishiri 

 {Tarn.), Sala-misiri (Tt^L), Sala-mishri {MaL), Chale-michhri 

 \Beng.)y Salama-misri {Miu\, Guz.), 



History, Uses, &C. — Theophrastus (P. H. ix., 19), and 



Dioscorides (iii., 132, 133, 134, 135), mention several tuberous 

 roots which were used by the Greeks under the natnes of Orchis 

 or Serapias and Satyrion. It is not known exactly what all of 

 these were, but it is certain that some of them were the tubers 

 of different species of Orchis, ^px^^ is described by the ancients 

 as having a twofold root, formed of tuberosities which resemble 

 the testes in appearance. The larger of these tuberosities, or, 

 as some say, the harder of the two, taken in water, was thought 

 to be provocative of lust; while the smaller, or, according to 

 some, the softer one, taken in goat's milk, was considered to be 



