AN ARISTOCRATIC FAMILY. 87 



leaves in both species are shining above and silver}^ be- 

 neath. 



In swamps and damp woods, often growing alongside de- 

 caying logs, may be found the tiny Microstylis ophioglos- 

 soides, a plant scarcely as long as its name, but neverthe- 

 less very interesting. It looks very much like the small 

 false Solomon's seal. There is but one leaf, the shape of 

 which has given the plant the disagreeable name of " ad- 

 der's-mouth. The greenish flowers are minute and are 

 arranged in a terminal raceme, which is obtuse at the 

 apex. In M. ophioj^lossoides the leaf is near the middle of. 

 the stem — in M. monophyllos it clasps the base of the stem. 



Two species of coral-root may be found in July, C. odon- 

 torhiza being at its best then, and C. multiRora just begin- 

 ning to bloom. The former species is, so far as my knowl- 

 edge goes, very rare in this vicinit}'. I have found but 

 one plant, and that was so completely used up in the ex- 

 amination that it was not available for an herbarium speci- 

 men. The latter species is common in dryish woods, es- 

 pecially in leaf-mold, and continues to flower till Septem- 

 ber. The scapes are purplish or yellowish, or sometimes 

 clear yellow. These latter, however, turn purplish in dry- 

 ing. The coral-roots are of all our orchids perhaps the 

 nearest to being true saprophytes, deriving their susten- 

 ance from decaying vegetable matter. [See Nature 

 Study, Vol. II, No. 6. November.] 



The genus Goodyera (Peramium) comprises the orchids 

 popularly known as "rattlesnake plantains." Until quite 

 recently ours have been divided into two species, G. repcns 

 and G. pubescens. Concerning the latter there is no ques- 

 tion. It is that species which blooms in dry woods through 

 July and August. The root-leaves are light green in hue 

 and strongly reticulated with white. The scape bears a 

 spike of greenish white flowers which is neither one-sided 

 nor spiral. The plants have been particularly handsome 



