Pogonias and Limodorums 91 



is not so beautiful as its comrade species, the Grass- 

 Pink; but to nie it is sweetly fragrant, and since it is 

 an orchid, it is precious, although small and somewhat 

 unsightly in its suggestiveness. 



There are two leaves: one, oblong and sessile, ap- 

 pears in the middle of the stem ; and another smaller, 

 bract-like leaf is found at the base of the seed-capsule, 

 bearing the nodding blossom with its alert bearded 

 petals. The roots are little clusters of fibrous threads, 

 loosely attached in the moss-grown mounds of the 

 primeval forest stumps, — which are slowly decaying 

 below the soil in these aged swamps. 



The Grass- Pink {Limodorum tuberosum) is much 

 more attractive, with its rose and pink-purple blos- 

 soms. The spike, often a foot high, bears from two to 

 fifteen beautiful and slightly fragrant flowers. The 

 origin of the generic name, Limodorum, comes from 

 the Greek, meaning "a meadow gift." These flowers, 

 according to Mr. Coleman, are called Grass-Pinks in 

 Michigan, while Thoreau also called them by the same 

 name in Massachusetts.' The labellum seems hinged 

 at the insertion, and is bearded with yellow and purple 

 hairs. There is seldom more than one freshly blown 

 blossom on the stalk at a time, and thus the plant 

 remains attractive for some days. Beginning at the 

 lowermost bud, each one takes its turn in unfolding, 

 the spike slowly lengthening while the buds constantly 

 increase in size and color. 



One interesting peculiarity of this species is that it 

 ' Thoreau, Summer, p. 347. 



