CLASS GYNANDRIA. 



181 



appear as ringent) exhibits the most varied forms ; it is situa- 

 ted ojiposite to the style, which is often petaloid, and seems to ^ 

 form an upper iip in accordance with the lower or true petal. ' 

 In Orchis this sixth petal is often trifid, and sometimes divided 

 into fringe or hairs ; its base terminates in a seed, or elongated 

 nectiferous cavity. Most of the species of Orchis liave more 

 recently been transferred to the genus Ilahenaria. 



270. The roots of the Orchis sometimes consist of two solid 

 bulbs ; in other cases they are oblong, fleshy substances, taper- 

 ing toward the ends like the fingers of the hand. The name 

 Orchis is derived from a Greek word, signifying an olive-berry, 

 on account of some of the roots being round like that fruit. 

 Anthers always one or two, and from one to four-celled, sessile, 

 or sitting upon the side or apex of the style ; the pollen is easily 

 removed from the cells in glutinous masses ; the styles are 

 simple, mth viscous stigmas of various forms and positions. 

 The capsules are one-celled, three-valved, three-keeled; the 

 seeds are numerous and dust-like ; the leaves clasp the stem like 

 the leaves of grasses. The Orchis family are monocotyledons 

 and exogens. Their roots are tuberiferous. The flowers are 

 remarkable for their irregular appearance ; some present the 

 figure of a fly, others of a spider, a bird, and even of the human 

 figure. It w^ould seem that the freaks of these vegetable beings 

 are not designed for our observation, for they are as peculiar in 

 their choice of habitations as in their external forms, preferring 

 wdldness, barrenness, and desolation, to the fostering care of 

 man, or the most luxuriant soil. The aromatic vanilla is ob- 

 tained from the fruit of a climbing orchis of equatorial re- 

 gions : many of the E'pi])liytes^ or air-plants, which appear 

 in great perfection in those regions, are Orchidaceous ; they 

 are called air-plants in allusion to their mode of nourishment, 

 the roots merely adhering to the bark of trees, or sometimes 

 hanging loose ; these j^lants are called Epiphytes, or para- 

 sites, though they do not derive their sustenance through 

 plants. 



Fig. 153 represents a flower of this ~ 

 tribe ; a shows the two masses of pollen 

 lu'ought out from the cells of the anther 

 which is attached to the pistil. 



271. Order Dianclria^ two stamens^ con- 

 tains the lady's-slipper (Cypkipedium) ; tlie 

 lip is large, "inflated, and resembles a slip- 

 per. Some species are yellow, some white, 

 and others purple. Order Pentandria^ 

 five stamens^ contains the milk-weed (As- 



othei 



270. Orchis.— 271 . Order Dianilria— Penlandrio. 



