Appendix 263 



and petals linear, obtuse, arched over the column. Scape 5-10 

 inches high, glabrous, producing 1-3 sheathing bracts. Leaf i, 

 linear, many-nerved, 4-6 inches long, hidden above bracts. 

 Root small, onion-like bulb. Seed-capsule i inch long, ellip- 

 soid, 6-ribbed, rarely maturing, although seedlings appear 

 numerous in natural haunts, the sphagnum being filled with 

 lightly-attached bulbs. 



Continental Range — From Newfoundland, southward to 

 North Carolina ; westward to Minnesota. 



New England Range — Maine, common ; New Hampshire, 

 common ; Vermont, common ; Massachusetts frequent ; Rhode 

 Island, common ; Connecticut, common. 



VI 



GyrostacKys 



Persoon, 1807 



{Spiranthes L. C. Richard, 1818) 



Ladies' Tresses 



The generic name, Gytostachys, refers to the twisting spikes, 

 which resemble a " coil," or "curl," from which originated the 

 common name of Ladies' Tresses. 



Krect spiked racemes of twisting flowers. Anther i. Label- 

 lum clawed, concave, erect, embracing the column. Sepals 

 free, coherent at top with petals, forming a galea. Flowers 

 small, spurless, white or greenish, in rows. Anther without 

 a lid, situated back of column. Pollinia 2, i in each anther- 

 sac, powdery. Fragrance delicate. Stem leafy, bracted above 

 basal leaves. Leaves linear, save in two species — G. simplex 

 and G. gracilis^ in which they are round, oblong, and basal. 

 Roots fleshy-fibrous, or tuberous. Seed-capsule erect and 

 oblong. 



Continental Range— Qommon in pasture-land and meadow 

 boglands ; from Alaska, southward to Florida ; westward to the 

 Pacific coast. There are 80 or more species of this genus dis- 

 tributed throughout the tropical and temperate regions of the 

 world. 



North American species north of Mexico 19-20 



New England species 6 



Hoosac Valley species 5-6 



New England species : 



1. G. Romanzoffiana (Chamisso), MacMillan, 1828-1892. 



2. G . plantaginea (Rafinesque), Britton, 1818-1896. 



3. G. ochroleuca Rydberg, 1901. 



4. G. cernua (Linnaeus), Kuntze, 1 753-1891. 



5. G. simplex (A. Gray), Kuntze, 1 867-1 891. 



6. G. gracilis {^\%€io^), Kuntze, 1824-1891. 



