210 ORCHIDE^ 



Order LXXXIII. ORCHIDE^— ORCHID TRIBE. 



Perianth of 3 sepals, usually coloured, and 3 petals, the lowest unlike 

 the others and often spurred; stamens and styles united into a central 

 column; anther of 2 cells, containing pollen which is either powdery or 

 granular, but more frequently consists of 2, 4, or 8 waxy masses {poUinia) 

 sometimes raised on minute stalks ; stigma a moist space in front of the 

 column ; fruit a 3-valved many-seeded capsule. The Orchid tribe consists 

 of herbaceous perennial plants, those which are fixed in the ground having 

 usually one, two, or more fleshy knobs attached to the base of the stem, 

 and bearing very handsome and singular flowers. The tropical species often 

 grow on trees, in the crevices of the bark, and have twisted and often stem- 

 like roots. The groups of this order have been arranged by botanists 

 according to the diflerent condition of the pollen masses ; and the manner in 

 which these adhere. 



1. Bog Orchis {MaMxis).- — Sepals spreading, lip very small, erect, with- 

 out a spur ; 2 side petals turning upwards ; column round and very short, 

 the anther hinged to its top. Name from the Greek malaxis, softness, in 

 allusion to the delicate texture of the species. 



2. Fen Orchis {Liparis). — Perianth spreading, lip flat, expanded, entire, 

 turned backwards ; column long. Name from the Greek liparos, unctuous, 

 in allusion to the surface of the leaves. 



3. Coral-root {Corallorluza). — Petals and upper sepal converging, lateral 

 sepals spreading ; lip turned down at the base, its spur connected with the 

 ovary, column free ; ovary and its stalk straight. Name from the Greek 

 korallion, coral, and rJdza, a root, from the form of the roots. 



4. Heixeborine {Epijmdis). — Lip swollen below, the extremity either 

 entire or 3-lobed, the middle lobe the largest, and contracted in the middle ; 

 ovary straight, on a twisted stalk. Name given by the Greeks to some 

 species of Hellel)ore. 



5. Bird's-nest or Tw ay-blade {Listera). — Perianth spreading ; lip 

 2-lobed, and turned downwards ; pollen farinaceous. Named in honour of 

 Dr. Martin Lister. 



6. Lady's Tresses {Ncottia). — Perianth incurved, the two lateral sepals 

 erect ; lip channelled, embracing the wingless column, and uniting below with 

 its base. Name from the Greek neottia, a bird's nest. 



7. GoODYERA. — Perianth ringent, the two lateral sepals placed beneath 

 the lip, which is swollen at the base, and entire at the extremity ; column 

 free. Named in honour of Mr. John Goodyer, an English botanist of Queen 

 Elizabeth's time. 



8. Gmelin's Coral-root {Epip)0(jium). — Perianth somewhat spreading; 

 lip uppermost, 3-lobed, shortly spurred ; column short, stigma in front ; 

 ovary not twisted. Name from the Greek, epi, upon, and pogoii, beard or 

 lip, from the latter being uppermost. 



9. Orchis. — Perianth ringent, hooded ; lip 3-lobed, spurred. Name from 

 the Greek, orchis, which was given to plants with double tuberous roots. 



10. Gymnadenia. — Perianth ringent; lip spurred at the base beneath. 



