ORCHIDACE.E. ((JRCHIS FAMILY.) 477 



lobed. Capsule splitting at the apex into three valves. Radical leaves 

 crowded and grass-like, or none; those of the stem minute, scale-like. Flow- 

 ers racemose or clustered. 



1. B. biflora, L. Stem simple, or forked above, 1 -seveYal-flowered; 

 leaves subulate, scattered; perianth blue, broadly 3-winged; seeds oblong, 

 striate. Grassy or mossy margins of swamps arid ponds, Florida to North 

 Carolina. Sept.-Nov. Stem l'-5'high. In this and the following species 

 the seeds escape through irregular lateral fissures. 



2. B. capitata, Chapm. Stems setaceous, simple; leaves subulate, 

 scattered ; flowers several in a terminal cluster, white, tinged with blue ; peri- 

 anth wingless ; seeds linear-oblong, spirally striate. Low pine barrens, Flor- 

 ida to North Carolina. Sept. - Nov. Stems 2'- 6' high. 



2. APTERIA, Nutt. 



Perianth terete, tubular-bell-shaped, with the 3 interior lobes smaller. Sta- 

 mens 3, very short ; the filaments flat and orbicular at the apex : anthers 

 closely adhering to the globose, stigmas. Ovary 1-celled, with three 2-winged 

 parietal placenta;. Capsule obovate, splitting from the base iuto three valves, 

 which remain attached to the apex o'f the persistent placentas. Seeds ovoid. 

 - A small perennial herb, with subulate bract-like leaves, and scattered nod- 

 ding flowers. 



1. A. setacea, Nutt. Deep shady woods, along the margins of swamps, 

 Florida, Georgia, and westward. Sept. -Oct. Stem purple, simple or 

 branched, 2' - 8' high. Leaves scattered. Flowers few, distant, on nodding 

 pedicels. Perianth white, 5" long. 



ORDER 144. ORCHID ACEJE. (ORCHIS FAMILY.) 



Perennial herbs, with simple stems, from thick fibrous or tuberous 

 roots, nerved leaves, and irregular often showy flowers. Perianth 6- 

 parted, united below with the 1-celled ovary: the three outer divisions 

 (calyx) and commonly two of the inner ones (petals) similar inform; 

 but the third, posterior, or, by the twisting of the ovary, anterior one 

 (labellum or lip) differs from the others in form, and often bears a 

 spur or prominence at the base beneath. Stamens 3, united with the 

 style into a column, one or (in Cypripedium) two only bearing a 2- 

 celled anther. Pollen grains cohering in 2, 4, or 8 waxy or powdery 

 masses (pollinia). Capsule with three parietal placentae, splitting at 

 the sides into three valves. Seeds very numerous, minute, covered 

 with a loose membranaceous testa. Albumen none. Plants mostly 

 smooth and more or less succulent. Leaves almost always alternate, 

 sheathing and entire. Stems leafy or scape-like. Flowers bracted, 

 solitary, spiked, or racemed, and remarkable for their various and sin- 

 gular forms. 



