84 REMARKABLE FLOWERS. [CHAP. 



vated in our conservatories and hothouses on account 

 of their singular and beautiful forms. This illustration 

 of the commonest British species will give an idea of 

 the general construction of the flower in this order. 

 The most peculiar feature of such construction con- 

 sists in the pistil and stamens being consolidated 

 into a mass called the column. The pollen grains 

 are united together into masses by" elastic threads, 

 which unite them to a slender stalk (caudicle). These 



FIG. 88. 



pollen masses (pollinia) occupy two lobes of the 

 anther, and are attached by the base of the caudicle 

 to the rostellum. The stigmatic surface is just below 

 the rostellum, and at the entrance to the nectary or 

 spur. The remarkable method by which cross-fer- 

 tilisation is ensured we have already described (see 

 Chapter IV.) ; we wish here to call attention to the 

 grotesque forms of the flowers. One of our rarest 

 native species, the Orchis hircina, or Lizard Orchis, 

 has the central segment of the lip very long, tapering 



