1 62 Bo^-Trotting' for Orchids 



We searched the borders of the roadside for that 

 little two-leaved orchid, Twayblade {Leptorchis lilii- 

 folia), formerly known as lyily-I^eaved I^iparis, which 

 grows here in the moist woods. We were too early 

 for it, however. We turned oflf into the deeper woods 

 till we came to the tangled edges of Mclyean's Swamp. 

 Here, a little later, I collected pink azaleas and marsh 

 marigolds, golden-ragwort, — known as the False Valer- 

 ian {Senecio aiireus), — white mustard, and water-cress, 

 — also of the Mustard Family. Throughout these 

 beautiful woods the Broad-Beech Fern {Phegopteris 

 hexagonoptera) and the Oak Fern {Phegopteris Dryop- 

 teris) dwell. The Jack-in-the-Pulpit and Indian Cu- 

 cumbers were here, towering above the False lyilies- 

 of- the- Valley and Trillium; and among these vines 

 the dainty golden-shoes of the Fragrant Cypripedium 

 tripped forth like fairy's foot-gear. The Indian 

 Cucumber {Medeola Virginiana) is a strange plant 

 belonging to the Lily-of-the- Valley Family, The root 

 is tuberous, of a white, brittle substance, with a flavor 

 like that of the garden cucumber. The leaves occur 

 in two whorls along the slender stalk. About the 

 middle of the stem there is a whorl of five to nine 

 oblong-lanceolate leaves ; above this another smaller 

 whorl occurs, with three to five leaves ; and still above 

 this, all the small flowers nod toward the ground. 



Medeola is an adaptation of Medea, the name of the 

 daughter of King ^etes of Colchis, who aided Jason 

 by her witchcraft, and was afterward deserted by him. 

 This plant is supposed to possess magic properties as a 



