668 



SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



Distribution, ^-c. — ^Natives of Chili. There are 2 genera, — 

 Philesia and Lapageria, and 2 species. In their properties they 

 are said to resemble Sarsaparilla. (See Smilax.) 



Sub-class II. Petaloidece or FloridcB. 



1. Epigynse, 



Natural Order 247. Okchtdaceje. — The Orchis Order {figs. 

 ] 030-1033). — Character. — Herbs or shrubs, terrestrial (jf^^s. 

 235 and 236) or epiphytical ( fig. 230). Boots fibrous or tuber- 

 culated {figs. 235 and 236) ; no true stem, or a pseudo-bulb {fig. 



Fig. 1030. 



Fig. 1031. 



Fig. 1032. 



Fig 1030. Front view of the flower of the Tway-hlade {Listera ovata), 

 showing the bifid labellum with the other five divisions of the 

 perianth ; and the essential organs of reproduction forming a column. 



Fig. 1031. Diagram of the flower of an Orchid. .«, si, si. The three 



outer divisions of the perianth ; s being anterior or inferior, sJ, si being 

 lateral, pi, pi. The two lateral divisions of the inner whorl of the 

 perianth, ps. The superior or posterior division (Lahellum) of the 

 inner whorl ; this by the twisting of the ovary becomes ultimately 

 Inferior or anterior, e. The fertile stamen, with two anther lobes. 



c. Transverse section of the ovary, with three parietal placentas. . 



Fig. 10.32. Fruit of an Orchid dehiscing l)y three valves, each valve 



bearing a placenta and numerous seeds. Fig. 1033. Seed of an 



Orchid, with a loose reticulated testa. 



230). Leaves entire {fig. 290), generally sheathing. Flowers 

 irregular {figs. 532 and 1030), solitary or numerous, with a 

 single bract, hermaphrodite. Perianth superior {figs. 532 and 

 1030), usually petaloid, and composed of six pieces {fig. 1031), 

 which are commonly arranged in two whorls ; the oitter whorl, 

 s, si, si, formed of three pieces {sepals), more or less united 

 below or distinct, one, s, being anterior, or when the ovary is 

 twisted posterior {figs. 532 and 1030), and two, si, si, lateral; 

 the in7ier whorl {fig. 1031, pi, pi, ps) usually of tliree pieces 

 ( petals), or rarely of but one, alternating with the pieces in the 



