484 ENDOGENOUS OR MONOCOTYLEDONOTJS PLANTS. 



ovary, and from all other plants, by their irregular flowers, with a 

 perianth of six parts ; their single fertile stamen (or in Cypripe- 

 dium their two stamens) coherent with the style (composing the 

 column} ; their pollen usually combined into two or more compact 

 or regular masses (pollinia), or of the consistence and appearance 

 of wax : the ovary one-celled, with three parietal placentae, cov- 

 ered with numerous small seeds. Ex. Orchis, Cypripedium 

 (Ladies'-Slipper), Arethusa, &c. In the tropics many are Epi- 

 phytes (132, Fig. 120). Many are cultivated for their beauty and 

 singularity. The tuberiferous roots are often filled with a very 

 dense mucilaginous or glutinous substance (as those of our Aplec- 

 trum, thence called Putty-root). Of this nature is the Salep of 

 commerce, the produce of some unascertained species of Middle 

 Asia. The fragrant Vanilla is the fleshy fruit of the West Indian 

 Vanilla claviculata. 



1097 1099 



907. Ord, Zingiberaceae (the Ginger Family) consists of some 

 tropical aromatic herbs, the nerves of their leaves diverging from 



FIG. 1096. Orchis spectabilis : a, a separate flower. 1097. Column (somewhat magnified), 

 from which the other parts are cut away : the two anther-cells opening and showing the pollen- 

 masses. 1098. Magnified pollen-mass, with its stalk. 1099. Arethusa bulbosa. 1100. The 

 column, enlarged: the anther terminal and opening by a lid. 1101. Magnified anther, with 

 the lid removed, showing the two pollen-masses in each cell. 



