236 THE SHOWY ORCHIS. 



vation has shown that the agent is a butterfly with a probos- 

 cis long enough to fathom the nectary.* The mouth of the 

 nectary opens just beneath the stigma, and close by the two 

 sticky glands already named. The lip is the platform on which 

 the insect alights. Thrusting its proboscis into the open- 

 ing in order to reach the nectar, it comes into contact with 

 the glands, which adhere to its head so that in retreating 

 it drags the pollinia from their cells. You may do the same 

 with your finger (4) and observe that in a few seconds the 

 pollinium bends downward on its stalk (d). Thus it comes 

 into the exact position to be dashed against the stigma below 

 the cells of the next flower the insect visits. In this way, 

 crossing is almost inevitably secured. 



The Name. Of the genus Orchis we have more than 

 20 native species. All may be recognized by the agreement 

 of the flowers to the above description. The species repre- 

 sented in Fig. LXI, 0. s])ectdUlis (Showy Orchis), is the 

 earliest in flower. Specifically it differs from the others in 

 its stigma, which has the sticky glands near together and 

 enclosed, while in the others they are separated and naked ; 

 and the few rose-purple flowers are on a square scape not 

 taller than the 2 obovate, obtuse, parallel-veined leaves, f 



Scientific Terms. Column. Gynandrous. 



* The Madagascar Orchis has a nectary nearly a foot long. Darwin inferred from 

 this fact that huge moths would be found on that island with probosces sufficiently 

 long to thrust down this lengthy tube. No moth in any part of the world was known 

 to possess such a proboscis. Since then Muller has found a species in Brazil with a 

 trunk that even when dried is ten or eleven inches long. 



t All the European Orchids and some of our own (Adam-and-Eve, e. g.) have roots 

 with two lobes one hard and vigorous, the other withered and decaying. The former 

 is an offshoot from the latter, and has, on its own opposite side, a bud that will the 

 next year expand and send up a stem, the new plump bulb withering in its turn. In 

 consequence of this mode of growth, the position of the plant changes about half an 

 inch every year, and so 



" The Orchis takes 

 Its annual step across the earth," 



in time becoming quite far removed from its original position. 



