272 Do^-Trotting for OrcHids 



4.— PERAMIUM OPHIOIDES (Fernald) Rydberg, 1899-1901 

 White-Blotched Ratti^esnake Plantain 



The specific name, ophioides, comes from ophis, a serpent, and 

 aides, like, referring to the blotched leaves resembling a snake's 

 skin. 



Small cold mossy woodland orchid with thick fleshy-fibrous 

 roots, July-September. 



Flowers greeuish-white ; galea concave with a short, strongly 

 recurved tip. Labellum deeply saccate, with recurved margins 

 and tip. Anther blunt. Scape 4-8 inches high, glandular-pu- 

 bescent. Leaves basal in rosette, several ; leaf-blade broadly 

 ovate, dark green, usually with the white blotches most con- 

 spicuous along the cross-veins. Spike of flowers i-sided, loosely 

 arranged. A variety of P. repens, with which it is confused. 



Continental Range— Vxoxa. Prince Edward Island to Mani- 

 toba, southward to North Carolina, in company with P. repens 

 and P. pubescens. 



New England Pange— Vermont, frequent ; Massachusetts, 

 common. 



IX 

 AcHroantKes 



Rafinesque, 1808 



{Microstylis Nuttall, 1818) 



Adder's-Mouth 



The generic name, Achroanthes, refers to the green flowers of 

 this genus. 



Small orchids with solid bulbs. Anther, i. Labellum cor- 

 date, or eared, at the bass, embracing the column. Sepals free ; 

 petals linear, spreading. Flowers minute white or greenish, in 

 a terminal raceme. Anther erect between the auricles, 2-celled. 

 Pollinia, 4, 2 in each anther-sac, smooth and waxy, without 

 caudicles or glands, and cohering at summit. Stem, 4-10 inches 

 high. Leaf i, with several scales at base of stem. Seed-cap- 

 sule oval, or globose. 



Continental Range— Vrom Alaska, southward to Florida; 

 westward to Nebraska and Arizona, where a species seeks 9500 

 feet elevation on Mount Graham. There are 70-80 species 

 reported in the temperate and tropical regions of the world. 



