THE ORCHID FAMILY, 251 



scales, called ovuliferous, as they bear ovules, but 

 naked on the margins below the apex, which is more 

 expanded. The seeds are more or less globose. 



There are twelve species of Kaffir-bread and one of 

 Stange'ria in Natal. 



CLASS II.— MONOCOTYLEDONS. 



DIVISION I.— PETALOIDE^. 



Orchidese. 



The Orchid Family. 



This order contains, perhaps, the most curiously 

 constructed flowers of all. It has some 5000 species in 

 334 genera, divided into 5 tribes. Each tribe, except 

 one, has several sub-tribes. In South Africa there are 

 38 genera. 



Di'sa. — This has many species in tropical and South 

 Africa, of which D, graoidiflo'ra is called the " Glory of 

 Table Mountain.'* 



Fig. 98 will explain the structure. The first 

 thing to notice is the inferior ovary and superior 

 perianth. The ovary in many orchids is often so 

 twisted that the flower is really upside down. In 

 others it is very slightly or even not at all twisted, but 

 the flower may be still inverted, as it bends over to 

 the opposite side of the stem. 



