1142 



OPHRYS 



ONTAEIO. See Canacla. 



ONtCHIUM (Greek, oiiyr, a claw; referring to the 

 shape of the lobes of the Ivs.). PoljipodiAcetv. A genus 

 of small, mainly Asiatic ferns, with the sori arranged 

 on a continuous linear receptacle, as in Pteris, but with 

 narrow segments in which the indusia extend nearly to 

 the midrib. For culture, see Fern. The orchids i»cca- 

 sionally advertised as Onychiums are Dendrobiums. 



aur&tum, Kaulf. Lvs. ovate, a foot or more long by 

 half as wide, quadripinnatitid, with membranous indusia 

 and abundant sporangia of a golden color; divisions of 

 the sporophylls poddike. India and adjacent islands. 



Japdnicum, Kunze. Fig. 1540. Lvs. ovate, a foot or 

 more long by half as wide, quadripinnatitid, with pale 

 indusia and brown sori ; divisions of the sporophylls 

 linear-mucronate, similar to those of the 

 sterile leaf. India, China, and Japan. 



L. M. Undekwood. 

 OPHfiLIA. See Swertia. 



0PHI0GL6SSUM (Greek, serpenfii 

 tongue}. Opliing/ossdeew. A genus of 

 small, ferndike plants of wide distribution, 

 with a more or less elongated terminal 

 spike formed of two rows of coalescent 

 sjiorangia, and bearing a single leaf at or 

 below the middle of the stem. Rather diflft- 

 cultof cultivation, and mainly of interest as 

 curiosities. 



vulgitum, Linn. Adder's Tongue Fern. 

 Fig. 1541. Six-12 in. high, with a spike ^4-1 

 in. long, bearing a single ovate leaf near 

 the middle of the stem. In low places, 

 Europe and North America. — May be cult. 

 in moist peat in a partially shaded spot. 

 Occasionally found in large numbers in 

 peaty meadows. 

 L. M. Underwood and F. W. Barclay. 



OPHIOPdGON (Greek, snalce's beard; a 

 translation of the Japanese name). Hiema- 

 dorHeeff. Of this genus we cultivate 2 spe- 

 cies of hardy, low-growing herbaceous per- 

 ennials from Japan, with linear foliage, 

 1541. which is often striped or spotted with white 

 Ophioelos- or yellow, and racemes of small, 6-parted, 

 sum vul- pendulous fls., varying from white through 

 Ad'd"' ' "^ ^^ ^'olp'"P>"'Pl6' The species raen- 



Toneue. ^ tioned below are not very exciting. They 

 are procurable from a few dealers in hardy 

 perennials, from specialists in Japanese plants and 

 from Dutch bulb-growers. J. B. Keller writes that the 

 most popular form is O. Jabnran, var. aureus varie- 

 {I'ftn.'^, which is chiefly used as a greenhouse foliage 

 plant. The fls. of O. Jabnran are followed by large, 

 showy, shining dark blue berries. It is easy to manage 

 in the window, and is almost hardy. O. spicatus is prop- 

 erly Liriope spicata. 



The genus is an oriental one of about 7 species of 

 herbs. The plants have a short, thick rhizome, and the 

 fibrous roots sometimes act like runners, and sometimes 

 are thickened into tubers : lvs. linear or oblong-lanceo- 

 late and narrowed into a petiole: bracts small, scari- 

 ous: perianth-tube none; stamens C, fixed at the base of 

 the segments; filaments erect, distinct, shorter than the 

 linear anthers: cells of ovary 2-ovuled: seeds in the 

 form of a globose berry. 



A. Lower fls. in groups of 2-S. 

 Jap6nicus, Ker. Perennial, stemless, glabrous herb, 

 w-ith a stoloniferous rhizome: fibrous roots long, slen- 

 der, often nodulose: root-lvs. numerous, erect, narrowly 

 linear, H-1 ft., 1-1 J^ lines wide, 5-7-nerved: scape 2-4 

 in. long: raceme lax, few-fid., 2-3 in. long: Hs. droop- 

 ing, violet-purple to lilac or more or less whitish. ,Ta]i., 

 Corea, northern China. B.M. 10G3. — Var. variegMus, 

 Hort., has variegated foliage, 



AA. Loiver fls. in groups of 6-9. 



Jabdran, Lodd. Habit of the above, but more robust: 



lvs. l>4-3 ft. long, 4-6 lines wide, many-nerved : scape 



J^-2 ft. long: raceme 3-6 in. long: fls. white to lilac. 

 Japan. L.B.C. 19:1876 (a fine pure white). — Var. coeril- 

 leus, Hort., has "blue" fls. Var. aureus variegatus has 

 foliage striped golden yellow. Var. arg6nteus variega- 

 tus has foliage spotted white. Var. arg^nteus vittatus 

 has foliage striped with white. ^- jj 



Ophiopogons are said to be hardy, but they are not 

 reliably so. O. Japonicus lived for three winters in an 

 exposed position on our rock garden, so that we felt in- 

 clined to believe it would continue so. One severe win- 

 ter every plant died. O. Jabnran will occasionally live, 

 but its foliage gets badly spoiled, so that we now lift it 

 and store in coldframes. The variegated form, espe- 

 cially the one with blue flowers, is very ornamental. It 

 may be used effectively in a variety of ways. It com- 

 bines nicely with dwarf foliage plants in the make-up 

 of mixed vases for parlor decoratiun. It lias a perma- 

 nent value, as after its new growth is made in spring- 

 time its variegation does not cliaiige nor its growth in- 

 crease. Its leaves are leathery and durable, and thus it is 

 effective the whole season. Spikes of blue flowers sent 

 up in August add much to its beauty, combining most 

 effectively with the yellow and green variegation. It is 

 increased by divisions of the rhizomatous roots. Any 

 .soil and situation will suit it. We have had it do well 

 in peaty soil and also in ordinary loam and shady cor- 

 ners, where scarcely anything else will grow. But, of 

 course, the plants have been put out after their season's 

 growth has been made in coldframes in spring. 



T. D. Hatfield. 



OPHRYS (Greek, fj/efcrow). OrehidAeew. A genus of 

 terrestrial orchids mostly in the north temperate zone 

 in Euriipo, Asia and N. Africa, the greater number be- 

 ing found in the Mediterranean region. They have the 

 habit of Goodyera, bearing a basal rosette of lvs. with an 

 erect flower stem terminating in a raceme or spike of 

 fls. Sepals similar, spreading: petals smaller, often 

 pubescent: labellum generally convex with incurved 

 margins, not spurred, entire or3-lobed: column short. 

 Culture as for Habenaria. 



The following are advertised by Dutch bulb dealers : 



A. Margin of the labeUum brown or purple -brown. 



B. Labellum scarcely longer than the sepal. 



c. Sepals green. 



aranilera, Huds. Spider Orchis. Resembles O. apif- 

 era. Sepals green; petals very short; labellum dull 

 brown, marked with paler spots, obscurely lobed. Spring 

 and early summer. Europe. B.M. 5712. B.R. 14:1197. 



fusca, Link. Lvs. oblong-lanceolate, those on the 

 stem narrower: sepals green, ovate-oblong, the upper 

 one smaller, oblong; petals half as long, lanceolate-ob- 

 tuse; labellum oblong, dark purple and hairy on the mar- 

 gin, disk light blue, polished. Mediterranean region. 

 B.R. 13:1071. 



CO. Sepals rose-colored or white. 



arachnites. Lam. Stem erect, leafy: lvs. ovate-lan- 

 I'eolate: tls. distant; sepals ovate concave, rose-colored, 

 tinged with green; petals conical, fleshy, smaller than the 

 sepals and colored like them; labellum round, with 

 the sides reflexed, black-purple, with yellow marks and 

 green appendages. Cent. Europe. B.M. 2516. 



apifera, Huds. ( O. arachnites, Reichard ) . Bee Orchis. 

 Stem 9-18 in. high, with few oblong or lanceolate lvs.: 

 fls. 3-6, rather large; sepals ovate, pale pink or 

 white; petals smaller, erect; labellum broad, convex, 

 lobes all turned, velvety brown, marked with paler lines 

 or spots. Fls. early summer. Dry pastures, Cent, and 

 S. Europe. 



BB. Labellum longer than the sepals. 



Speculum, Link. Looking-Glass Orchis. Stem 4-12 

 in. high, 3-6-fld.: lvs. linear-oblong: fls. }^-l in. across; 

 sepals linear-oblong, green, with purple bands; petals 

 very small, triangular-lanceolate, dark purple-brown; 

 hdiellum quadrate, oblong, very convex; disk shining 

 blue, with a yellow edge; margin pilose and fimbriate, 

 maroon - purple. Mediterranean region. B.M. 5841. 

 B.R. 5:370. 



muscifera, Huds. (O. myddes, Jacq.). Fly Orchis. 

 Stem very slender, 3-4-fld. : sepals oblong or narrowly 



