ENDOGENOUS OR MONOCOTYLKDONOUS TLANTS. 



489 



of six parts ; their single fertile stiimcn (or in Cypripedium their 

 two stamens) coherent with the style (composing the column) ; their 

 pollen usually combined into two or more granular or waxy masses 

 (pollinia) ; the ovary one-celled, with three parietal placentae, 



covered with numerous minute seeds. — Ex. Orchis, Cypripedium 

 (Ladies' Slipper), Arethusa, &c. In the tropics many are Epiphytes 

 (149, Fig. 144). Many are cultivated for their beauty and singu- 

 larity. The luberiferous roots are often filled with a very dense 

 mucilaginous or glutinous substance (as those of our Aplectrum, 

 thence called Putty-root). Of this nature is the Salep of commerce, 

 the produce of some unascertained species of Middle Asia. The 

 fragrant Vanilla is the fleshy fruit of Vanilla planifolia and other 

 tropical American species. The roots of Cypripedium are used as 

 a substitute for Valerian. 



938. Ord. ZingiberaccDB ( Ginger Family) consists of some mostly 

 showy tropical aromatic herbs, the nerves of their leaves diverging 



FIO. 1233. Orchis spectabilis : a, a separate flower. 1234. Column (somewhat magnified), 

 from which the other parts are cut away : the two anther-cells opening and showing the pollen- 

 musses. 1235. Magnified pollen-mass, with its stalk. 1236. Arethusa bulbosa. 1237 The 

 column, enlarged : the anther terminal and opening by a lid. 123S. Magnified anther, witfc 

 the lid removed, showing the two pollen-masses in each cell. 



