OKCHIDS. 239 



the cut would nearly resemble the flower of Dr. Bigelow's 

 0. grandiflora, so common in the meadows of New England. 

 Again, with the lip less deeply fringed, the terminal segment 

 split, the lateral segments squarely clipped, and the whole 

 flower violet-purple, we should have a flower of O.peramwna, 

 a splendid plant of the meadows West and South. 



Z/ady ' s-slipper. Several kinds of this interesting 

 genus ( Cypripedium) may be detected in their sylvan retreats, 

 and analyzed in this connection. Three distinctive marks 

 will be noted. The column has 3 stamens, 2 with anthers 

 and 1 petal-like, with no anther ; the lip is an inflated sack ; 

 the 2 lower sepals are united to near the apex. 



Classification. These few instances suffice to introduce 

 the great and marvelous order of the OKCHIDACE^; the 

 Orchids containing probably 400 genera and 3000 species, 

 known by the following marks : 



Herbs with parallel-veined leaves. 



Flowers irregular, 3-parted, with a lip. 



Perianth adherent to the ovary. 



Stamens 1 or 2, gynandrous. 



Pollen cohering in masses pollinia. 



Ovary 1 -celled, with innumerable ovules. 



Fertilization effected only by insect agency. 



The Orchids grow in all countries, but are most abundant in the 

 hot damp regions within the Tropics. There they thrive in countless 

 thousands as air-plants (epiphytes) independent of the soil, clinging to 

 the trunks and branches of trees, and to naked rocks, drawing their 

 nourishment from the air alone, displaying curious and grotesque 

 forms of floral beauty in endless variety. Their mimicry of insects, 

 birds * and reptiles, is often very striking, and also significant in view of 

 their dependence on insects for their very existence. Are the insects them- 

 selves deceived and enticed by these animal forms and appearances ? 

 The products of the Orchids useful to mankind are very few. The 



* Thus in the Holy Spirit Plant (Peristlria, eldfa) of Central America, the corolla 

 is of alabaster whiteness, and the column within is an almost perfect likeness of a 

 dove with outspread wings, as artists are wont to paint the Holy Spirit. No wonder 

 that among the ignorant natives it becomes an object of superstitious reverence. 



