ORDER CXXV. ORCHTDACEjE ORCHIS-FAMILY. 



203 



leaf, mucli larger than the upper, bract-like ones. Stem 6' 10' high. Not un- 

 common in wet woods and swamps. July. 



5. PLATAXTIlfcEA. 

 Flower ringent. Petals and sepals nearlyequal ; upper ones 

 vaulted ; lateral ones spreading. lap depressed, attached to the 

 base of the column, tapering at base to a spur distinct from the 

 ovary. Anther-cells 2, diverging at base. Pollen-masses pedi- 

 cellate, and attached to the 2 glands of the stigma, which are not 

 inclosed in a covering, and are widely separated. 



1. P. fl&va. Yellow Orchis. 



Stem leafy, somewhat Heinous ; leaves ovate-oblong, acute, varying to Ian 

 ceolate and linear-lanceolate, acuminate above; flowers email, dull-greenish- 

 yellow. In a long, cyllndrlc spike, at first dense and at length loose ; bracta ex- 

 cept the uppermost, longer than the flowers ; petals ovate ; lip oblong, obtuse, 

 toothed on each side near the base ; palate with a tuberculous protuberance ; 

 spur filiform, clivate, shorter than the ovary. A small. Inelegant species, com- 

 mon In wet grounds. Stem 8' 15' high. June Aug. 



2. P. Mcera. 



Ragged Orchis. 



Stem leafy ; leaves oblong or lanceolate ; flowers whitish-yellow or greenish 

 white, loneor or shorter than the bracts, In a loose, cylindrical raceme; petals 

 near, entire ; lip 8-parted, tapering to a claw at base ; segments narrow, and 

 ieeply cut Into long and very fine divisions; spur filiform, as long as the ovary. 

 A common and homely plant, growing in moist meadows and thickets. Stem 

 14 ft high. Distinguished by its greenish flowers, fringed lip and entire 

 petals. July. 



3. P. psycodcs. 



Small-fringed Orchis. 



Stem leafy, angled : leaves ublong or ovate-lanceolate, upper ones lanceolate ; 

 flowers small, purple, fragrant, in a dense, many-flowered, cylindrical raceme ; 

 lower sepals roundish-elliptical, obtuse; petals cnneate-obovata or spatulate, 

 somewhat toothed at the extremity ; lip 8-parted, tapering at base to a claw ; 

 segments broad-cuneiform, flmbriate with short, fine fringe ; spur longer than 

 the ovary. A very handsome specie*, 1 2 ft high, common In wet meadows. 

 Distinguished by Its rather small, purple flowers, and short-fringed lip. July 

 Aug. 



4. P. }inil.ri:it:i. Fringed Orchis. 



Stem leafy, angled ; leaves oval, varying to oblong-lanceolate above ; flowers 

 large, loosely arranged In a cylindrical raceme, and furnished with lanceolate 

 bracts, pale purple ; lower sepals ovate, acute; petals oblong, fringed ; lip very 

 large, dependent, 8 parted, somewhat triangular In outline, deeply flmbriate 

 with long, capillary friige ; spur longer than the ovary. A noble species, 

 growing in swamps and meadows ; distinguished from the last by its fewer, 

 much larger, and paler flowers, the much larger, long-frloged lip, and tilt sarlier 

 flowering. Stem 23 ft high. Not very common southward ; frequent In 

 Northern N. Eng. and N. York. June. 



t. ARETHtSA. 



Flowers ringent. Sepals and petals lanceolate, nearly equal, 

 cohering at base, arched over the column. Lip destitute of spur, 

 spreading and recurved toward the extremity, bearded inside. 

 Column dilated, attached at base to the lip. Anther-cells 2, ap- 

 proximate. Pollen-masses 4 ; 2 in each cell, angular, made up 

 of grain*. 



1. A. bulbosa. Arethusa. 



Mostly leafless In blossom ; scape low, sheathed, arising from a round bulb, 

 and bearing a single, large, fragrant, purple flower. The sheaths contain a 

 linear leaf, which sometimes appears with the flower, but generally follows It, 

 pushing out from Its sheath. A very beautiful flower growing In bogs. Scape 

 4' S' high, bearing * flower 2' long. May. 



7. POO&NIA. 



Flowers ringent. Sepals and petals somewhat spreading, not 

 united at base. Lip crested or 8-iobed, bearded inside. Column 

 elavate, not winged at apex. Anther pedicellate. Pollen-masses 

 2, 1 in each cell, farinaceous. 



1. P. ophioglossoides. Adders-tongue Arethusa. 



. l-lcavod and 1-bracted: leaf situated at the middle of the stem, 

 oval or lanceolate, cUspIng ; bract situated above, similar In shape, but smaller ; 

 flowers mostly solitary, rarely 48, large, pal* purple or pink, somewhat nod- 



ding; lip spatulate, flmbriate, bearded, as long as the petal.-. A very pretty 

 little plant, common in meadows and bogs. June July. 



8. CALOP6GON. 



Sepals and petals nearly equal, distinct at base. Lip on the 

 upper side of the flower, tapering to a claw or stalk, expanded at 

 summit, bearded above. Column free, winged at apex. Pollen- 

 masses 2, angular. 



1. C. pulchellus. Grass Pink. 



Scape slender, 1-leavcd, several flowered, arising from a solid bulb ; leaf lin- 

 ear, grass-like, veiny, sheathing the base of the scape ; flowers large, bright 

 reddish-purple, fragrant, 2 4 in number ; bracts minute ; sepals and petals ex- 

 panded, ovate-lanceolate, acute; lip concave, dilated at summit, bearded in- 

 side, with yellowish and purplish, thickened veins. A very beautiful plant, 

 common In meadows and bogs, distinguished by the anomalous position of tho 

 lip, which is placed In the upper part of the flower, with the column in tho 

 lower portion, causing it to appear Inverted. Stem 8' 14' high. July. 



9. SPIRiNTHES. 



Flowers somewhat ringent, in a mostly spiral spike. Upper 

 sepal cohering with the petals. Lip oblong, concave, including 

 the lower part of the column, tapering at base to a short claw, 

 and furnished with 2 callous processes just above the claw, some- 

 what dilated at apex. Column arching, elavate, on a short, 

 oblique pedicel Stigma beaked, at length 2-cleft. Pollen-masses 

 2, composed of scarcely cohering grains. 



1. S. griicilis. 



Slender Ladies' Tresses. 



Scape very slender, smooth ; leaves all radical, ovate, or oval-lanceolate, 

 petlolate, mostly withered before flowering; flowers small, pearly-white, ar- 

 ranged in a single row, which is sometimes straight, but usually winds spirally 

 round the ails ; bracts ovate, acute ; lip narrow-obovate, crisped at the sum- 

 mit A curious little plant, 6* 12' high, common In dry fields and hilly woods, 

 distinguished by its spiral spikes of pearly-white flowers. The scape usually 

 appears leafless on account of the early disappearance of the leaves. July Aug. 



2. S. cernna. Ladies' Tresses. 



Stem rather stout, pubescent above ; radical leaves linear-lanceolate ; those 

 of the stem of the same shape but smaller ; flowers whitish or cream-color, 

 larger than In the last, crowded In a dense spike, fragrant, somewhat pubescent ; 

 bracts ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, as long as tho flowers ; lip oblong, dilated 

 and crisped at apex. A stouter species than the last, with persistent leaves. 

 Common ir. wet ground. Scape T' 15' high. Radical leaves very long. Aug. 



-Oct. 



10. GOODYERA. 



Flowers ringent. Upper sepal cohering with the petals, 

 vaulted. Lower sepals situated beneath the lip, which is sessile, 

 saccate at base and entire. Column straight. Pollen-masses 2, 

 composed of angular grains held together by a web. 



1. G-. pubcscens. Rattlesnake Plantain. 



Scape pubescent ; leaves all radical, in- tufts, ovate, petlolate, dark-green, 

 veined and blotched with white ; flowers small, greenlsh-wbitc, like the scape 

 glandular-pubescent, arranged in a dense spike ; the roundish, inflated lip 

 ovate, ending In an abrupt point A curious plant, common in rich woods, well 

 marked by its white-veined and spotted leaves, from which Its common name 

 9 derived, probably from some fancied resemblance between its colors and those 

 of the snake. Scape 6' 12' high. July Aug. 



11. CYPREPEDIUM. 



Sepals spreading ; the 2 lower or forward ones united into 1 

 below the Jip, rarely distinct Petals alike, but mostly narrower. 

 Lip a large, inflated, obtuse sac, which may be compared to a 

 shoe or slipper. Column 8-lobed ; lateral lobes anther-bearing; 

 middle lobe dilated and petaloid, incurved. Pollen composed of 

 soft granules. 



1. C. parviflorum. Yellow Lady's Slipper. 



Stem leafy, pubescent ; leaves oval, acuminate, strongly parallel-veined, pubes- 

 cent ; flowers large, mostly solitary ; sepals ovate, or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate ; 

 ls elongated, linear^ contorted, greenish, striped and spotted with brown- 

 ish-purple ; Up large, inflated, yellow, spotted inside, with a rounded aperture 

 on the upper side ; lobe of the column triangular. A curious and very showy 



