ORCHIDACEAE 309 



Flowers spreading or erect. Perianth colored : lobes unequal, the outer longer than the 

 inner. Hypanthium strongly 3-angled or 3-winged. Stamens 3, opposite the inner peri- 

 anth-lobes : filaments very short : anthers with connective prolonged beyond the sacs and 

 2-cleft. Ovary 3-celled with 3 central 2-lobed placentae : stigma 3-lobed or capitate. Cap- 

 sule 3-celled, crowned with the persistent perianth-lobes, opening by lateral ruptures or 3 

 valves at the apex. 



Flowers 1-several, often 2, in a terminal raceme : hypanthium broadly 3-winged. 1. B. biflora. 



Flowers several in a terminal cluster : hypanthium 3-angled. 2. B. capitata. 



1. Burmannia biflora L. Stems slender, 5-15 cm. tall, simple or sparingly branched : 

 leaves reduced to scales, these 1-3 mm. long, scattered : flowers 1 or often 2 at the end of 

 a branch, sometimes nearly sessile : perianth blue, 3-4 mm. long ; lobes various, the outer 

 ovate or triangular, the inner much smaller, nearly linear, incurved : hypanthium broadly 

 3-winged : capsules 4-5 mm. long, surrounded by the 3-winged hypanthium. 



In grassy swamps or on margins of ponds, Virginia to Florida and Louisiana. Spring to fall. 



2. Burmannia capitata (Walt.) Mart. Stems nearly filiform, 5-20 cm. tall, sim- 

 ple, sometimes almost naked : leaves reduced to scales, these subulate, 1-5 mm. long, 

 acute, scattered : flowers several in a terminal cluster, crowded : perianth white or pale blue, 

 3-4 mm. long ; outer lobes triangular or deltoid, the margins involute ; inner lobes obso- 

 lete : hypanthium 3-angled, wingless : anthers with 2-horned connective : stigmas 2-lobed, 

 flattened, hollow : capsules oblong, 2-3 mm. long : seeds minute. 



In low pine lands, North Carolina to Florida and Louisiana. Spring to fall. 



2. APTERIA Nutt. 



Perennial herbs, with weak slender scape-like stems. Leaves reduced to scales on the 

 stems. Flowers racemose, nodding. Perianth colored, delicate : lobes unequal, the 

 inner smaller than the outer. Stamens 3 : filaments very short, flattened and dilated at the 

 apex : anthers 2-celled, adhering to the stigmas. Hypanthium terete. Ovary inferior, 

 1-celled, with 3, 2-winged parietal placentae : stigmas 3, capitate. Ovules numerous on 

 each placenta. Capsule terete, 3-valved from the base, the valves clinging to the top of 

 the persistent placentae. Seeds numerous, the loose testa reticulated. 



1. Apteria aphylla (Nutt.) Barnhart. Stems erect or decumbent, 5-20 cm. long, 

 purple, simple or sparingly branched: leaves scale-like, 1-2 mm. long, scattered : pedicels 

 slender, 5-15 mm. long, curved : perianth white or purple, nodding, 10-15 mm. long ; 

 lobes acute, shorter than the tube, the 3 inner smaller than the outer : stamens and style 

 included: capsules oval or globose-obovoid, 5-8 mm. long: seeds about 0.3 mm. long. 

 [Lobelia aphylla Nutt. A. setacea Nutt. ] 



In deep swampy woods, Georgia to Florida and Louisiana. Summer and fall. 



FAMILY 2. ORCHIDACEAE Lindl. ORCHID FAMILY. 



Perennial herbs, commonly succulent, with tuberous or fibrous roots, corms, 

 bulbs or elongated rootstocks. Stems or scapes usually simple, at least below 

 the inflorescence. Leaves basal or cauline, various, often reduced to scales, 

 mostly sheathing at the base. Flowers perfect, irregular, solitary or disposed in 

 a simple or compound inflorescence. Perianth inconspicuous or showy, usually of 

 2 series. Sepals 3, alike, or nearly so. Petals 3, of 2 kinds, the 2 lateral 

 (" petals") similar, and the middle one (" lip ") usually very different from the 

 other petals, often prolonged below into a spur, sometimes inferior by the torsion 

 of the pedicel or ovary. Androecium irregular, of one or more stamens, adnate 

 to the style, forming an asymmetrical column. Anther 1, or rarely 2 anthers, 

 often 2-celled, containing 2-8 waxy or powdery pollinia ; these pollen-masses 

 usually stalked, united by elastic threads and often attached at the base to a 

 viscid gland. Gynoecium of 3 united carpels. Ovary inferior, 1-celled, twisted. 

 Style commonly terminating in a beak at the base of the anther, or between its 

 sacs. Stigma a viscid surface facing the lip beneath the beak or between the 

 anther-sacs. Ovules numerous, on 3 placentae, anatropous. Fruit a 3-valved 

 capsule. Seeds numerous, very small, each with a loose reticulated testa. En- 

 dosperm wanting. Embryo fleshy. 



