528 ORDER CXXII. — OECHIDACE.E. 



■ Genus XIII.— BLE'TIA. Ru. & Pa. 18—1. 

 (In honor of Louis Blet, a Spanish botanist) 



Leaves of the perianth distinct. Lip sessile, cuciillate, some- 

 times spurred. Column free. Pollen masses 4 — 8, 2-l(>bed. 



1. B. verecun'da, (Nutt.) Leaves radical, lanceolate, plaited, broad. 

 Scape many-flowered. Lip ventricose, the border eniargii.ate, fur- 

 rowed ; the interior segments connivent. — If. July — Aug. Southern 

 Geo, and Flor. 



2. B. aphyl'la, (Nutt.) Stem erect, simple, scaly. Leaves none. 

 Flowers in spikes, numerous, ])endulous. Lip emargir.ate, crested 

 along the center ; the other segments connivent, oblongdanceolate. — 

 Brown, streaked with purple. 2f . Aug. — Sept. On the margins of 

 swamps. 1 — 2 feet. 



Genus XIV.— MALAX'TS. {Liparis, Rich.) Swartz., 18—1. 

 (From malaecis, delicate, in allusion to its texture.) 



Segments of the perianth expanding, resupinate. Z?}^ sessile, 

 entire, flattened. Column Avinged. Pollen masses 4, becom- 

 ing waxy. 



1. M. liliifo'lia, (L.) Leaves 2, radical, oval, lanceolate, glabrous. 

 Scape 3 — 5 angled. Flowers numerous, in a terminal raceme ; the exterior 

 segments of the perianth acute, the two interior filiform, reflexed. Lip 

 obovate, concave, acute at the summit. — White and yellow. If. June 

 — July. Upper dist. Car. and Geo. 6 — 8 inches. 



2. M. ophioglossoi'bes, (Muhl.) Stem erect, with a single leaf near 

 the middle. Leaf ovate, amplexicaul. Flowers numerous, in a termi- 

 nal raceme, small. Lip erect, concave, cucullate, bidentate ; tlie other 

 segments connivent, the two interior filiform. Column minute. — 

 Greenish-white. 2f , May — June, Middle and upper dist. Car. and 

 Geo. 6 — 9 inches. 



Genus XV,— CYPRIPE'DIUM. L, 18—2, {Ladys Slipper) 



(From Cyprii, one of the names of Venus, and poclion, a slipper ; hence its common 

 name, Venus' or Lady's Slipper.) 



Lip ventricose, inflated, saccate, large ; the other segments of 

 the perianth expanding, 4. Column terminating in a petaloid 

 lobe. 



1. C, parviflo'rum, (Salis.) Stem leafy, slightly pubescent. Leaves 

 alternate, lanceolate, acute, pubescent beneath, sessile, sheathing. 

 Floxvers usually solitary ; outer segments of the perianth ovate-oblong, 

 acuminate, the inner ones linear, twisted, bearded on the inner surface. 

 Lip shorter than the petals, bearded at the base within. — Yellow, 

 spotted. May — June. Upper dist. Car, and Geo. 8 — 10 inches, 



2. C, PUBEs'cENS, (Willd.) Stem leafy. Leaves oval, clasping, pubes- 

 cent. Lip yellow, contracted at the mouth ; lobe of the style triangu- 

 lar, oblong, obtuse ; the exterior petals acuminate, the interior very 

 long, linear, twisted. — Bright yellow, 2f, May. Middle Geo., near 

 Culloden. 1—3 feet. 



