7« 



M.OWl.RS OK THE KIKl.DS AND MEADOWS 



n)LiiKlccl t<'c-th, and is 3-lobecl, as broad as lonj^, with the mari,nn bent 

 back, the spur longer than the ovary, and ascending'. The 2 oulcr 

 sepals are acute, and bent back upwards. 



The Purple Orchid is i ft. to 18 in. hi^h, and the flowers are in 

 bloom from April to May. It is perennial, propas^ated by division of 

 the tubers. 



The 3 sepals and 2 upper petals arch o\cr the stij^ma. The 

 lip is adapted for an alitjhtino- place, and is prolonoed backwards to 



form a holltnv spur with 

 walls of delicate ti.ssue. 



The stii^ina is just above 

 the sj)ur, with inferior lobes 

 which are stinmatic surfaces, 

 and the third forms the 

 beak, full of clammy fluid, 

 projecting' into the mouth 

 of the spur. The 2 lateral 

 anthers are sterile scales, 

 and the perfect one stands 

 above the beak. The two 

 cells are separated by a 

 broad process connecting the 

 anther cells with the fila- 

 ment, splitting longitudin- 

 ally, and within lie the two 

 masses of pollen grains, 

 attached only by threads 

 and adhering to the upper 

 surface of the beak. When 

 an insect thrusts its head into the spur it touches the beak, when the 

 covering membrane splits, and curls back, and two small disks con- 

 nected with the caudicles or stalks which bear the pollen masses, 

 coated with sticky matter below, stick to the insect's head, and the 

 fluid hardens like cement. The insect when quitting the flower 

 bears the pollinia attached to the disks away on its head. The 

 pollinia are at first erect, but when the disks dry they bend forward 

 into an almost horizontal position, .so that in visiting another flower 

 they come in contact with the stigma, and cross-pollination is the 

 natural result. 



This Orchid is visited by the Humble bee Bomdus praioniiu, the 

 flies Enipis livida, E. pciutipcs. ]'o/iicc!/a bonibvlans, Eristalis hoiiico/a. 



PiRPLF, Orchis [Orchis masmla, L.) 



