THE ORCHIS FAMILY 



THE orchids are more nearly related to the lilies 

 than to any other family. In fact, their roots, 

 stems, and leaves might often be mistaken for 

 that tribe. The leaves are always parallel-veined, never 

 compound, frequently grass-like, and are sometimes re- 

 duced to scales. 



The form of the flower is the distinctive feature of the 

 orchid. The calyx and corolla are very irregular and it is 

 often difficult to distinguish them. They are divided into 

 six segments, three sepals, and three petals. One of the 

 petals is called the Lip and is generally more showy than 

 the others. Sometimes this lip is cut or fringed, some- 

 times it is furnished with a spur, and often it is most 

 grotesque in form or color. The most characteristic thing 

 about the flower, however, is the Column. This is the 

 ovary, surmounted by the style, bearing the stigma and 

 the one or two anthers (or pollen sacs of the stamen) 

 balanced each side of the stigma, or just above or below it. 

 The pollen of the orchid grows in sticky masses. When 

 disturbed by an insect, it is removed in one piece and 

 deposited on the stigma of a neighboring blossom. The 

 ovary is long and generally twisted and the seeds are 

 very numerous and dust-like. The orchid is especially 

 adapted to cross-fertilization. 



PLATE XIII 



CORAL ROOT, Corallorhiza corallorhiza. Root. 

 Fleshy, coral-like. Stem. 4'-! 2', simple. Leaves. Re- 

 duced to 2-5 scales. Flowers. Greenish or dull purple, 

 small, in racemes i'~3' long, 3-12 flowered. Perianth. 

 Of five narrow sepals and petals and a short, whitish lip 

 with a short spur. Column (A). Incurved, winged 

 above. The anthers (a) above the stigma (6). Ovary (c). 



This insignificant little herb ranges over most of the 

 United States. It blooms from May to June. 



WISTER'S CORAL ROOT, C. Wisieriana, MANY- 

 FLOWERED CORAL ROOT, C. mulliflora, and STRIPED 

 CORAL ROOT, C. striata, are much the same, but larger, 

 with slightly more showy lips. 



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