530 ~ CXL. ORCHIDACEZ. Liparis. 
Ova. 1-celled, with 3 parietal placente. Ovwies indefinite. 
Sty. consolidated with the stamens Stig. a viscid cavity in front of the column. 
Fy.—-Capsule 3-ribbed, 3-valved. Sds. many, without albumen. 
Genera 394, species 30002 ‘They are among the most interesting and curious of plants, almost always 
remarkable for the grotesque form of their tortuous roots and stems, and the fragrance, brilliancy and odd 
structure of the flowers. h : , 
The Orchidacee are natives of every partof the world. Inthe tropics multitudes of them are epiph- 
ytes, growing on living trees or decaying timber. " é ; . 
This order is remarkable for those qualities only which please the eye. Many of its species are culti- 
vated for ornament, but few of them possess either active or useful properties. The salep oi commerce 
is a nutritive mucilaginous substance afforded by the roots of some Asiatic Orchis. The aromatic va- 
nilla, used to flavor chocolate, &c., is the fruit of the West Indian Vanilla cleviculata. 
Et Conspectus of the Genera. 
cauline. - 
Microstylis. I 
fovale, radical. 
Aplectrum. 4 
Leaf solitary, ensiform (rarely 2). . Calopogon. 10 
near base of stem. . . Liparis. 2 
Leaves2only, near middleofstem.. . Listera. 13 
radical, § ringent. ‘ « Goodyera. 12 
Flowers Sepals 2 erect. .  . Spiranthes. ll 
several. | Leaves several, (cauline. Fls.30r4.. . Calopogon. 10 
Spur 0. ( Flower solitary, lip bearded within. - 2 6 % Povonia. 9 
} ’ } Foltinia 2. Fils. bracteate - Orchis. 7 
Fertile : arc Pollinia 4. Fis. bractless. .  . Tipwiaria. 6 
Leaves 1 ¢ anth. 1. | Lip spurred at base, ? ventricose. Flower and leaf solitary. . Calypso. 5 
or more. ( Anthers 2 fertile, mid_le one sterile, petaloid. Lip saccate. y > . Cypripediwm. 14 
oes areen. Flowers sulitary. Lip bearded within. o *. Te 2 Arethusa. 
Leaves 0. ? Plants destitute of green herbage. Flowers racemose. a . 5 . Corallorhiza. 3 
Section 1. Pollen cohering in grains which finally become waxy, 
and are definite in number. 
1 MICROSTYLIS. Nutt. 
Gr. ptxpos, little, crvXos, style; alluding to the slender column. 
Segments of the perianth distinct, petals filiform; lip sessile, 
concave, erect, truncate and bidentate at summit; column minute; 
pollinia 4, loose. 
1. M. opuiociosséipes. Nutt. (Malaxis orph. Willd. M. unifolia. 
Michz.)—Lf. solitary, ovate, amplexicaul ; s¢.5-angled; rac. short, obtuse, 
capitate ; pedicels much longer than the flowers.—A small plant, in woods, &c., 
Can. and N. States. Stem 5—9’ high, with a single leaf a little below the 
middle. This leaf is rather acute, smooth, ovate or oval, about 23’ in length, t 
in width. At the base of the stem is an abrupt sheath. Flowers whitish, 
minute, numerous, in a terminal raceme an inch or more in length, dense at 
top. Bracts minute. Pedicels about 4” long. June. 
2. M. monopuyuuos. Lindl. (M. brachypoda. Gray. Malaxis mon. 
Willd.)—Leaf solitary, ovate, sheathing at base; rac. elongated, with 
numerous flowers on short pedicels; bracts minute; sep. acute, spreading; late- 
ral pet. reflexed, linear; lip triangular-hastate, cucullate, acuminate with a 
recurved point—In shady swamps, N. Y., rare. Prof. Hadley, Dr. Gray. Stem 
Q2—6’ high, 3-angled, with a subspicate raceme of 20—40 small, greenish 
flowers. July. 
9, LIPARIS. Rich. 
Gr. Aurapos, elegant, shining ; a term characteristic of these plants. 
Segments of the perianth distinct, sublinear, spreading or deflex- 
ed; lip spreading, flat, ascending, often exterior; column winged ; 
pollinia 4, parallel with each other, without pedicels or glands. 
1. L. uivirouia. Rich. (Malaxis lilifolia. Sw.) Tway-blade. 
Lws. 2, ovate-lanceolate ; scape triangular; inner pet. filiform, reflexed; 
lip concave, obovate, acute at the tip—In wet woods, Can. to Car., Ohio. 
Leaves radical, 3—6’ long, }—4 as wide, rather acute, tapering into.a sheath- 
mg base. Scape about 6’ high. Flowers 10—20, in a terminal, rather showy 
raceme. Pedicels near an inch in length. The 3 sepals greenish-white, linear. 
2 upper petals capillary, yellowish-white. Lip much larger than the other 
petals, white. June. 
