452 ORCHIDACE^E. (ORCHIS FAMILY.) 



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

 flowers several in a terminal cluster, white, tinged with blue ; perianth 3-angled, 

 wingless, the interior lobes linear, erect ; seeds linear-oblong, spirally striate. 

 (Tripterella capitata, Michx.) Low or swampy pine barrens, Florida to North 

 Carolina. Sept. - Nov. Stems 2' - 6' high. 



2. APTERIA, Nutt. 



Perianth terete, tubular-bell-shaped, 6-clcft, with the 3 interior lobes smaller. 

 Stamens 3, very short, opposite the interior lobes of the perianth, the filaments 

 flat and orbicular at the apex : anthers closely adhering to the globose stigmas. 

 Ovary 1 -celled, with three 2-wingcd parietal placentae. Capsule obovate, split- 

 ting from the base into three valves, which remain attached to the apex of the 

 persistent placentae. Seeds ovoid. A small perennial herb, with subulate 

 bract-like leaves, and scattered nodding flowers. 



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

 Florida, Georgia, and westward. Sept. and Oct. Stem erect or ascending, 

 purple, filiform, simple or branched, 2' - 8' high. Leaves scattered. Flowers 

 few, distant, on nodding pedicels. Perianth white, 5" long. 



ORDER 142. ORCHIDACE^E. (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 in form ; 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). Cap- 

 sule 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 remark- 

 able for their various and singular forms. 



Synopsis. 



I. Anther solitary, fixed to the apex of the column like a lid, deciduous. 

 TRIBE I. MALAXIDEJE. Pollen in smooth waxy masses, without stalks or connect- 

 ing tissue. Roots tuberous. 



* Stems leafy. 



1. MICROSTYLIS. Lip cordate or sagittate. Column minute, 2-toothed at the apex. 



2. LIPARIS. Lip entire. Column elongated, incurved, margined at the apex. 



