1 62 Bog-Trotting for OrcHids 



We searched the borders of the roadside for that 

 little two-leaved orchid, Twayblade (^Leptorchis lilii- 

 folia), formerly known as Lily-I^eaved L^iparis, which 

 grows here in the moist woods. We were too early 

 for it, however. We turned off into the deeper woods 

 till we came to the tangled edges of Mcl^ean's Swamp. 

 Here, a little later, I collected pink azaleas and marsh 

 marigolds, golden-ragwort, — known as the False Valer- 

 ian {Sefiecio aureus), — white mustard, and water-cress, 

 — also of the Mustard Family. Throughout these 

 beautiful woods the Broad-Beech Fern {Phegopteris 

 hexagonoptera) and the Oak Fern {Phegopteris Dryop- 

 teris) dwell. The Jack-in-the-Pulpit and Indian Cu- 

 cumbers were here, towering above the False I^ilies- 

 of- the- Valley and Trillium; and among these vines 

 the dainty golden-shoes of the Fragrant Cypripedium 

 tripped forth like fairy's foot-gear. The Indian 

 Cucumber {Medeola Virginiand) is a strange plant 

 belonging to the I^ily-of-the- Valley Family, The root 

 is tuberous, of a white, brittle substance, with a flavor 

 like that of the garden cucumber. The leaves occur 

 in two whorls along the slender stalk. About the 

 middle of the stem there is a whorl of five to nine 

 oblong-lanceolate leaves ; above this another smaller 

 whorl occurs, with three to five leaves ; and still above 

 this, all the small flowers nod toward the ground. 



Medeola is an adaptation of Medea, the name of the 

 daughter of King ^etes of Colchis, who aided Jason 

 by her witchcraft, and was afterward deserted by him. 

 This plant is supposed to possess magic properties as a 



