ORCHIDACE.^. 379 



BURMANNIA. f.b.i. 147 i. 



Small annual herbs with radical sword-shaped leaves, 

 or mere scales, and few or solitary flowers with the 

 characters of the family. Perianth tube straight, at its 

 base where it surrounds the ovary three-winged, above 

 this the inner lobes (petals) smaller than the outer. 

 Anthers three, sessile on the perianth, the two lobes 

 separated by a broad connective and opening trans- 

 versely. Ovary three-celled. Fruit a three-celled 

 capsule with many seeds. 



Species about 20, in all tropical countries from North 

 America to China. Some grow in dry sandy places, others only 

 in water. These latter have slender yellowish or brownish stems 

 and small scales instead of leaves, obtaining their organic 

 nourishment, as saprophytes, from the water. 



Burmannia Candida 6^n^^/z / F.B.I. y. 665, I 5. Stem 

 slender, colourless, 4 to 8 inches high. Leaves reduced 

 to scales 1/8 to 1/5 inch long. Flowers white, solitary or 

 in twos. Ovary with its wings ^ to J^ inch long, round 

 or obcordate in outline ; wings '% inch wide spirally 

 twisted. Perianth very small, outer lobes 1/16 inch, inner 

 half as long and wide. t. 241. 



In damp spots, often with Utricularia. Pulneys : below 

 Kodaikanal on Church cliff; flowering June. Not common. 

 Fyson 3099. Bourne 15. 



Gen. Dist. South India, Burma, Khasia, Bengal. 



ORCHIDACE/E. 



The Orchid-flower difl'ers profoundly from all others, 

 for there are no separate stamens and style, but only one 

 central column, on the top or at the side of which lies a 

 solitary anther, and on its front face a stigma. 



[In the small group of Slipper- orchids, cypripedium, which do not 

 grow here, the structure is a little different, there being two anthers, one on 

 cither side of the column.] 



