in the Vicinity of Boston. 417 



formed thread, is considerably longer than the germ. — New- 

 ton. — July. 



Orcliis grandijlora Large Flowering Orchis. This elegant 

 plant grows to the height of two feet, or more. Stem thick, 

 angular, fistulous. Lower leaves bhmt pointed, oblong oval, 

 or long oval, with parallel sides; upper leaves, and the brac- 

 tes or false flower leaves, lance-formed, and sharp-pointed. 

 Spike oblong-oval, many flowered. Petals all contiguous, 

 pale purple, the three outer ones ovate, concave, even, and 

 whole at the edge; the two inner ones ovate, with claws, and 

 cut or fringed on the whole of their sides, but scarcely so at 

 the ends. Lip pendent, deeper purple, more than twice the 

 length of the petals (the lip being sometimes nearly an inch 

 long) , divided into three segments, the two lateral ones wedge- 

 formed, cut and fringed to the middle or farther, the middle 

 one twice as long, fan-shaped, cut and fringed to the middle, 

 without being notclied at the end, tlie fringes on each side 

 of the middle converging in front of the lip. The upper 

 petal has a notch between the two anthers. — Grows in wet 

 meadows. — Lancaster, Leominster, Deerfield, &.c. — Abun- 

 dant in Enfield, New Hampshire. — June. 



"This plant is perhaps the largest and most beautiful of 

 all the species of Orchis. Tbe spike sometimes consists of 

 a few large flowers, but in favorable situations it is five or 

 six inches long, and three inches in thickness. The flowers 

 are more than twice the size of O. fimbridta^ paler, and very 

 different in the form of the lip, which has a very large mid- 

 dle segment, with a part of its fringe always bent inwards." 

 — Dr. Bigelow. 



Oixhis orbiciilata Round-leaved Orchis. A remarkable 

 species, from twelve to eighteen inches high, with two very 

 large round leaves, spreading flat upon the ground, their 

 form sometimes varying to ovate. The scape or stem bears 

 a spike of loose, greenish white flowers, with long, grass- 

 formed tips. -Wet meadows, &c.; Danvers; Hallowell, Maine; 

 Conway, Romney, &c.. New Hampshire. — June, July. 



Orchis spectdhiiis Showy Orchis. A low species, with 

 large fine flowers. Root fascicled, or in a bundle. The 

 leaves are at the bottom of the stem, and are large, oval. 

 Stem six inches high, very sharp angled. Bractes or false 

 flower leaves (not calyx leaves) lance-formed, longer than 

 the flower. Flowers few, purple and white, and among the 

 largest of the genus. Lip of the nectary whitish, undivided, 

 as long as the spur, retuse or slightly hollowed at the end; 

 also, scolloped at the sides, with or without intermediate 

 teeth. Petals straight, converging, ovate-lance formed, the 

 lateral ones longer. Spur white, large, club formed, shorter 



VOL. I. NO. XI. 3 



