GYNANDRIA. 195 



grows in our meadows, and rises to the height of two feet ; 

 leaves broad, lanceolate ; flowers in a spike, each with five 

 spreading petals ; color purple ; gerrns incurved and thick 

 ened in the middle ; spur filiform and longer than the germ. 

 The root of this genus is singular. Each stalk has at- 

 tached to it two bulbs, or tubers, one of which is withered, 

 and the other plump. The withered one has produced the 

 growing plant, while the other is destined to be its successor 

 the next year. The centre of the new bulb being about an 

 inch from the old one, the plant travels about that distance 

 every year, so that in a dozen years it will be found to have 

 marched a foot from its former place. It is from certain spe- 

 cies of this genus that the preparation called salep is made 

 This is a white powder, similar in its qualities to Sago and 

 Arrow-root. Brown has placed most American Orchidae un- 

 der his new genus Habenaria. 



DIVISION II. Anther parallel with the stigma. Pollen 

 powdery. 



GENUS Neottia. Ladies' tresses. The name is Greek, and 

 signifies bird's nest. How it obtained its popular name in 

 this country is unknown. One species, (Neottia pubescens,) 

 is called Rattle Snake Plantain, from the singular, reticulated 

 appearance of its leaves. This grows in dry places in the 

 woods, where its leaves may be found in March, forming a 

 kind of whorl, and lying flat on the ground. Color green, 

 veined with white, with a lustre like velvet. The stem rises 

 afterwards to the height of a foot and produces a spike of 

 white flowers. This plant is so fond of its native woods, that 

 it refuses domestic culture. 



DIVISION III. Anther terminal, persistent. Pollen pow- 

 dery. 



GENUS Arethusa. Arethusa was a nymph of Diana, and 

 as the poets feigned, was transformed into a foun- 

 tain. The species are found in moist places. Are- 

 thusa bulbosa is a native of our meadows. Stem 

 a foot high, and in small plants leafless ; in larger 

 ones a few lanceolate leaves appear on its upper 

 part. Flower single, petals blue, and all on one 

 side, forming a kind of head. Style large, incurv- 

 ed like the petals, and supporting its anther near 

 the end. It is a beautiful little flower, and will 

 bn known by the adjdining figure, 104, 



