Ifoerbaceous plants. 361 



A very interesting water plant belonging to another 

 family is the water hawthorn (Aponageton distachiori). 

 It has small flowers disposed in forked spikes, white, as are 

 the rather fleshy bracts ; sweet-scented. Leaves oblong- 

 lanceolate, bright green. Planted and treated as water 

 poppy. 



THE ORCHIS FAMILY. 



Orchis. A genus of very showy meadow or woodland 

 plants with a few more or less broadly lanceolate leaves in 

 a, rosette disposed around a leafy, flowering stem bearing a 

 raceme of white, yellow, or purple flowers in spring or sum- 

 mer. It includes some of our rarest flowers, which are some- 

 times difficult to cultivate. The secret of success lies in 

 selecting quite natural positions and in transferring the 

 plants without the least disturbance to the roots. The roots 

 are sometimes tuberous, always brittle and tender. The 

 best species for cultivation are : 0. maculata, leaves lanceo- 

 late, spotted black, flowers purple in a short spike on stems 

 a foot high. O. mascula, leaves spotted brown, flowers of 

 richer purple in a long and loose spike, spring flowering. 

 O. foliosa, leaves numerous, oblong, smooth and green ; 

 flowers purple, in spikes eight or nine inches long, three 

 inches in diameter on steins eighteen inches high or more ; 

 very showy. O. spectabilis, American species ; leaves two, 

 oblong-obovate ; flowers pink and white in bracted racemes 

 five or six inches high. All are fine in woodland scenery. 

 Beds of rich, well decayed leaf mold and sandy loam a 

 foot deep should be prepared for these in a half-shady posi- 

 tion. Plant in August or September and water thoroughly. 



