ORCHID FAMILY. 471 
3. Gyrostachys cérnua (L.) Kuntze. 
Nodding Ladies’ Tresses. (Fig. 1123.) 
Ophrys cernua I,. Sp. Pl. 946. _1753- 
Leaner cernua I. C. Rich. Orch. Ann. 37. 1817. 
ryrostachys cernua Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl, 664. 1891. 
Stem 6-25’ high (rarely taller), usually pubes- 
cent above, mostly bearing 2-6 acuminate bracts. 
Leaves nearly basal, linear-oblanceolate or linear, 
3/-14’ long, the blade narrow, the petiole 2/—10’ 
long; spike 4’-5’ long, 6’/-7’’ thick; flowers white 
or yellowish, fragrant, nodding or spreading, about 
5/’ long, in 3 rows; lateral sepals free, the upper 
arching and connivent with the petals; lip oblong, 
or sometimes ovate, the broad apex rounded, crenu- 
late or crisped; callosities nipple-shaped, straight, 
hairy. 
In wet meadows and swamps, Nova Scotia to Ontario 
and Minnesota, south to Florida and Louisiana, Aug.— 
Oct. 
o 
4. Gyrostachys odorata (Nutt. ) Kuntze. 
Fragrant Ladies’ Tresses. (Fig. 1124.) 
Neottia odorata Nutt. Journ. Acad. Phil.'7:98. 1834. 
Spiranthes odorata Lindl. Gen. & Sp. Orch. 467. 1840. 
Gyrostachys odorata Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 664. 1891. 
Stem stout, 1°-2° high, strongly pubescent above. 
Lower and basal leaves 8’-15’ long, 7/’-2’ wide, 
tapering into sheathing petioles, the upper reduced 
to bracts; spike 5/-6’ long, 8//-10’ thick, floral 
\ bracts often exceeding the flowers, long-acuminate; 
flowers yellowish white, fragrant, 5’ long; lateral 
sepals free; lip as long as the petals, oblong, broad 
at the base, contracted above the middle, the 
\ dilated apex crisped or toothed; callosities nipple- 
\ | shaped, incurved, glabrous. 
X 2 On river banks, often in the water, North Carolina 
AS& j to Kentucky, Floridaand Louisiana. Sept.—Oct. 
5. Gyrostachys praécox (Walt.) Kuntze. Grass-leaved Ladies’ Tresses. 
(Fig. 1125.) 
Limodorum praecox Walt. Fl. Car. 221. 1788. 
Spiranthes graminea var. Wallert A. Gray, Man. 
Ed. 5, 505. 1867. 
Spiranthes praecox S. Wats. in A. Gray, Man. Ed. 
6, 505. 1890. 
Gyrostachys praecox Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 663. 
1891. 
Stem slender, 10-30’ high, glandular-pubes- 
cent above, leafy. Leaves linear, 4/—12/ long, 
with narrow grass-like blades and long sheath- 
ing petioles, mostly persistent through the flow- 
ering season, the upper smaller; spike usually 
much twisted, 2’-8’ long, 4/’-6’’ thick; bracts 
about as long as the ovaries; flowers white or 
yellowish, about 4/’ long, spreading; lateral 
sepals free, the upper somewhat connivent with 
the petals; lip about 3/’ long, short-clawed, ob- 
long, contracted above, the dilated apex obtuse, 
crenulate, often dark-striped in the middle; ros- 
tellum very acute; callosities small, glabrous. 
In grassy places, southern New York to Florida 
and Louisiana. July-Aug. 
