VIII. BURMANNIACE.E. 



777 



(O. mascula, Morio, militaris, macuhita, Sec.}. Salep contains in a small volume an abundance of 

 nutritive starch, associated with a peculiar gum, analogous to Bassorine ; it was formerly considered a 

 powerful analeptic ; it is now used as a sweet, scented jelly, or mixed with chocolate. The root of Helle- 

 borine (Epipactis latifolia) is employed for arthritic pains ; those of Himantoglossum hircinum, Spiranthes 

 autumnalis, and Platanthera bifolia, are reputed to be aphrodisiac. The flowers of Gymnadenia conoptea 

 are administered for dysentery; and in North America the tubers of Arethusa bulbosa are used to 

 stimulate indolent tumours and in toothache. The root of Spiranthes diuretica is renowned in Chili. 

 The rhizome of OypripetKuw pitbescens replaces the Valerian as an antispasmodic in the estimation of the 

 Anglo-Americans. 



VII. APOSTASIACE^E. 1 



[Perennial HERBS, BOOTS fibrous. STEM rigid, simple or slightly branched, 

 slender. LEAVES cauline, sheathing, rather rigid, alternate, lanceolate, strongly 

 nerved, nerves parallel. FLOWERS $ , in simple or 

 compound terminal nodding racemes, fragrant ; 

 pedicels bracteate at the base, sometimes bract- 

 eolate, PERIANTH superior, of 6 sub-equal seg- 

 ments in two series, rather oblique, deciduous ; 

 segments linear-oblong ; of the 3 outer 1 is anticous 

 and 2 lateral ; inner narrow, posticous, and more or 

 less labelliform. STAMENS 3, 2 fertile opposite 

 the lateral inner segments of the perianth ; third, 

 if present, rarely fertile, opposite the anticous segment ; filaments short, adnate to 

 the base of the style ; anthers basifixed, erect, 2-celled, introrse ; pollen of free 

 grains. OVARY inferior, elongate, 3-celled ; style slender, terete ; stigma obscurely 

 3-iobed ; ovules numerous, attached to the inner angles of the cells. CAPSULE mem- 

 branous, 3-celled, loculicidally 3-valved ; valves cohering at the base and top. SEEDS 

 numerous, very minute, ovoid or scobiform ; testa membranous, lax at both ends. 



GENERA. 

 Apostasia. Neuwiedia. 



A very small order, closely allied to Orchidece, distinguished by the style and the 3-celled ovary, 

 which, however, occur in the Seknipedium section of Cypripediea. The species, which are very few, 

 are natives of Trans-Gangetic India and the Malay peninsula and islands. They have no known 

 properties. ED.] 



VIII. BURMANNIACE^E. 



(BURMANNLE, Sprengel. BDRMANNIACE^E, SI. TRIPTERELLE^E, NuttalL 



ET TRIURIDE^E, Miers,) 



FLOWERS $ . PERIANTH superior, 6-partite, 2-seriate. STAMENS 3-6. 

 inferior, l-3-celled ; STIGMAS 3. SEEDS with cellular testa, exalbuminous. 

 undivided. Weak HERBS with linear leaves, or aphyllous. 



1 This Order is omitted in the original. 



OVARY 

 EMBRYO 



