86 THE ORCHIDS OF NEW ENGLAND. 



thrust out at nearly right angles to the upright stem, the col- 

 umn being a little raised from the horizontal ; the shield-shaped 

 stigmatic surface is situated at the upper front portion of the 

 column, which is surmounted by a pretty deep clinandrum with 

 an elevated, jagged border, and to the hind part of this, the 

 curiously shaped auriculated anther is attached by a narrow 

 elastic hinge which compels the anther-lid to remain deeply 

 seated in the clinandrum, whose thin, jagged edges border it on 

 every side. Upon the under surface of the anther-lid, as it 

 thus lies, are situated the two bunches of pollen, confluent, 

 forming a prominent oval mass, which a slight touch may re- 

 move. The thin edges of the clinandrum do not border the 

 anther-lid equally on every side, for if it were so, the raising of 

 the lid would brush the prominent pollen-masses against the 

 front edge, causing the pollen to fall useless into the bottom of 

 the pit, and thus render the plant self-destructive : to obviate 

 this, the edge of the clinandrum in front is hollowed and thrust 

 forward slightly, leaving sufficient room for the passage of the 

 pollen-masses at the raising of the lid : the resulting space is 

 not, however, left completely open, but as if to prevent the ac- 

 cidental removal of the pollen-masses, the lower front edge of 

 the anther-lid is furnished with a row of fringe of elongated 

 papillae, quite effectually closing the opening. So by this means, 

 although the masses of pollen and the stigmatic surface are in 

 close contiguity, they are entirely prevented by the exact struct- 

 ure and sculpture of the parts of the flower from ever com- 

 ing in contact with one another except through foreign aid ; 

 for the pollen-masses are seen to be completely packed away in 

 a deep pit, pressed down by a ponderous lid, whose elastic 

 hinge will not allow its elevation without considerable force; 

 and should by any possibility a portion of the pollen escape 

 through the opening in front, rarely effectually closed by the 

 fringe, it would drop, not upon the stigmatic surface, but upon 

 the lip, opposite to it. 



