SHOWY ORCHIS 



Orchis spectabilis L. 



April - May 'I'hc hrittlc forns arc thoiv. and tlic Christmas ferns. 

 Hilly woods Tlu'rc is a clunij) or two of ebony si)lo(>n\vort on the 

 slope al)ovi' till' foM's' path, and a woodland full of 

 iifwly Icaliii^^ oaks and hickories and black cherries all around it. And 

 there, set ajjart with that elegant, ainot look of orchids, is the showy orchis 

 in splendid clutnps of a'lossv oval leaves and jiick and white llowers. 



They arc never coiiuuoii. Ihit the showy orchi> i> nioi'c i-oininon in 

 many lllin()i> woods tlian arc most of the othei- orcliids. and it is beau- 

 lifiil eiiouub to be known iii>tantlv a> a miMubcr of that fanuly. 



The stout >1em i> set wltli hooded blossom-. The hood is lavender- 

 ro-e and the bi-oad. extended lip i- cianklcd, a puii.'. >parklin_:i' white. The 

 unfuiled buds, peihaps. are even liner than the open flowers. There is a 

 delicate fragrance suggesting that of the cultivated Cattleya. but with 

 an element of wildness and a faintness of scent which makes it part of 

 the Illinois woods. 



In this fragrance and in tbis llower is tlie cuhnination of all that is 

 fragrant and colorful and (ompact of the siiringtime. In the picture are 

 warblers singing in the trees, and a towlice ])oking about in the leaves 

 near the orchid. In it is tbe nndtiple scent of spring, of damiJ earth, 

 blossoming ])lum tree-, and wild crab ajiple llowers. the ])erfmne which 

 is distilled in a night in the woods, and in the new odors of dawn. .\ll 

 the.se things are in the wild orchis in the woods, in the clusters of leaves 

 and the stems with their pink and while lloweis which e.\])ress in their 

 transient blossoming the brief rarity of spring. 



4(; 



