PLANTS. 337 



CLASS II. 



ENDOGENOUS OR MONOCOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS. 



Stem not distinguishable into bark, pith, or wood. 

 Growth by irregular internal accretions, consisting of 

 bundles of vessels and woody fibers, not arranged in con- 

 centric rings, the last-formed lying close to the axis ; 

 germ, or embryo provided with a single seed-lobe (coty- 

 ledon), or if the second is present, it is alternate with it 

 and so much smaller, that neither germ nor spore are 

 apparent. 



SUB-CLASS I. EXDOGEXS WITH SEED. THE Oncni- 

 or ORCHIS FAMILY. 



The plants belonging to this class possess both germ 

 and seed vessel, plainly developed. 



SIXTY-THIRD FAMILY. ORCHIS. This genus con- 

 sists chiefly of small plants, mostly perennials with tub- 

 erous or thickened roots. (Class 20, L.) 



Ragwort (Orchis morio, Ambrosia, Tourne). The iti- 

 florescence of this plant resembles grains of small shot ; 

 leaves lanceolate and spotted ; flowers purplish, spicate, 

 or racemous. The small grains, containing much gluten 

 and starch, are used in the east as Salep or Saloop. 

 They are prepared by first having hot water poured over 

 them and then dried quickly in the sun. Used as 

 medicine, but principally as a seasoning to chocolate. 

 There are many varieties of orchis found in the United 

 States. 2 . 



The Lady's Slipper (Cypripedum calceolus). Leaves 

 oblong, lanceolate ; root fibrous : flowers yellow, shaped 



