228 Minnesota Plant Life. 



and usually about half an inch in diameter. Upon a somewhat 

 short erect stem, generally surpassed in length by the leaves, 

 are borne three or four yellowish flowers, of small size, in a flat 

 topped cluster. This plant cannot be mistaken for the yellow- 

 eyed grass because it has not the spherical scaly head from which 

 originate the flowers in the latter variety. 



Besides the families of the ninth order which have been men- 

 tioned there are four others not represented in the state. Nor 

 are the plants of the tenth order found so far beyond the tropics. 

 It is to this order that the bananas and the zingibers, the cannas 

 and the arrow-roots belong. Cannas, however, with their un- 

 symmetrical red flowers and large leaves are planted for orna- 

 ment in many Minnesota lawns and parks. 



Orchids. The eleventh order includes l)nt two families, one 

 of which is not found in Minnesota, while the other, the orchid 

 familv, presents a number of interesting varieties. Of orchids 

 there are about 45 species in the state, including the rein orchids 

 in a number of forms, the tress orchids, the Arctluisas, the 

 Pogo)iias. the Calypsos, the coral-roots, the putty-roots, and the 

 lady's slippers or moccasin flowers, together with some others. 

 Orchids differ from the rest of their class, so far as Minnesota 

 is concerned. l)y dcxeloping flowers with bilateral symmetry, 

 while the flowers of lilies, irises, yams and the rest are radially 

 symmetrical like a star-fish. Orchid flowers have a distinct 

 upper and under side like snap-dragon or pea flowers. This is 

 probablv because for ages they have stood laterally on their 

 stems and long ago in response to this habit came to show a dif- 

 ference between the side toward the ground and the side toward 

 the skies. Many orchid flowers display a long spin-, as do the 

 larkspurs. Others produce boat-shaped or slipper-shaped bags 

 as does the moccasin flower. In none of them has the flower 

 the even, radial synmietry possessed, for example, by the tulip 

 or the tiger lily. Not only for the presence of flowers of this 

 type, a character which they share with the cannas and bananas, 

 are the orchids noted, but also for the inmiense number of very 

 small seeds which they produce. 



In munerous orchid flowers a peculiar reduction of some of 

 the stamens takes jilacc. so that in many of them there remains 



