ORCHIDS 



141 



SMALLER PURPLE FRINGED ORCHIS Habenaria psycodes 

 July-August 



From a tubercled root rises a stem about 18 inches 

 high, bearing at intervals three or four 

 clasping leaves and numerous bracts. 

 At the summit is the flower racemo, 2 

 to 4 inches in length a dense flower 

 cluster of purplish-pink blossoms, % 

 to % inch wide. There is a long ovary ; 

 three roundish sepals, the upper form- 

 ing a hood ; and three petals, the lower 

 forming the lip. These petals are so 

 fringed and slashed that they give each 

 flower the droll semblance of a face 

 with perky side-whiskers, combed in '$ 

 the height of the fashion. 



In the heart of the flower is a minute 

 opening just large enough to allow a 

 moth's tongue to reach the nectar in 

 the deep spur below ; and, guarding this 

 entrance on either hand, lie two paral- 

 lel pollen sacs, containing clubs of pol- 

 len. The stigmatic surface is imme- 

 diately above the opening and between 

 the pollen pockets. The mechanism is 

 now in working order and requires only 



,, . . ., . ,. ' PURPLE FRINGED 



the proper insect to set it in motion. ORCHID 



