ORCHID FAMILY. 



3. Gyrostachys cernua (I,.) Kuntze. 

 Nodding Ladies' Tresses. (Fig. 1123.) 



Ophrys cernua L. Sp. PI. 946. 1753. 



Spiranthes cernua L. C. Rich. Orcli. Ann. ^7. iK|-. 



lachys cernua Kuntze, Rev. Gen. PI. '664. \Hqi. 

 Stem 6 / -25 / high (rarely taller), usually pubea- 

 nt above, mostly bearing 2-6 acuminate bracts, 

 .ves nearly basal, linear-oblanceolate or linear, 

 '-14' long, the blade narrow, the petiole 2 / -io / 

 g; spike 4'-$' long, 6 // -7 // thick; flowers white 

 yellowish, fragrant, nodding or spreading, about 

 5" long, in 3 rows; lateral sepals free, the uj>}xr 

 arching and connivent with the petals; lip oblong, 

 sometimes ovate, the broad apex rounded, crrnu- 

 e or crisped; callosities nipple-shaped, straight, 



r . v - 



In wet meadows and swamps, Nova Scotia to ' 

 (1 Minnesota, south to Florida and Louisiana 



47* 



4. Gyrostachys odorAta 

 Fragrant Ladies' Tresses. FJK i : 



\fvtlia odoraia Null. Jnurn. Acd. Phil. 7: tft. 

 Spiranlhes odorata J.indl ('.en. ft Sp. Orrb. i 

 Gyrostachys odorata KunUr. Rev . PI 664 



Stem stout, i -i high, strongly pubescent shorn 

 Lower and basal leaves V-ltf long, 7"-l / wide. 

 tapering into -In ..tlmi^ IK-IK >lnt. the upper rdCd 

 to bracts; spike s'-6' long, H"-io" thuk. (knl 

 bracts often exceeding the flower*, lung riMiH 

 flowers yellowish \vhitt-. fragi.uit. 5" long; Utrral 

 sepals free; lip as long as the peUte, oblong. bnd 

 at the base, contracted above the middle, the 

 dilated apex crisped or toothed; cllodtk ipph 

 shaped, incurved, glabrous. 



On river banks, often in the water, North 

 to Kentucky, Florida and LoaisiftHL 8rpt-OcC. 



5. Gyrostachys praecox (Walt.) Kunt/.e. Grass-leaved I.udies' 



(Fig. 1125.) 



limodorum praecox Walt. Fl. Car. 221. 1788. 

 "piranthes graminea var. Walteri A. Gray, Man. 



Ed. 5, 505. 1867. 

 piranthes praecox S. Wats, in A. Gray, Man. Ivd. 



6, 505. 1890. 



Gyrostachys praecox Kuntze, Rev. Gen. PI. 663. 

 1891. 



Stem slender, \o'-y/ high, glandular-pubes- 

 ent above, leafy. Leaves linear, 4 / -i2 / long, 

 eith narrow grass-like blades and long sheath - 

 ng petioles, mostly persistent through the flow- 

 ing season, the upper smaller; spike usually 

 nuch twisted, 2 / -8 / long, 4 X/ -6 X/ thick; bracts 

 about as long as the ovaries ; flowers white or 

 yellowish, about 4" long, spreading; lateral 

 sepals free, the upper somewhat connivent with 

 the petals; lip about 3" long, short -clawed, ob- 

 long, contracted above, the dilated apex obtuse, 

 crenulate, often dark-striped in the middle; ros- 

 tellum very acute; callosities small, glabrous. 



In grassy places, southern New York to Florida 

 and Louisiana. July-Aug. 



