THE ORCHID FAMILY. 89 



their supposed likeness to the skin of a rattlesnake, been associated with 

 that creature. In fact, all through the mountainous regions of the south the 

 natives affirm their belief in these leaves as an unfailing cure for the bites of 

 snakes, a tradition which has in all probability been transmitted to them 

 through the slaves in the cotton belt. 



In the mountains of North Carolina where this plant frequently ascends 

 to an elevation of 4,000 feet above the sea there is also a form of Peramiuin 

 repeals, a species known as a native of boreal and arctic Europe, and Alpine 

 and more northern stations in America. From Peramium pubescens it may 

 be distinguished by its strictly one-sided spike. It is the Peramiian 

 rc'pcns variety ophioides. 



KIDNEY=LEAF TWAYBLADE. {^Plate XXX) 

 List a- a Suialli. 



Flowers : very small, growing in a slender raceme from one half to four inches 

 long. Bracts: tiny; lanceolate, ^'d'/rt'/^.* reflexed ; linear, or linear-oblong. Lip: 

 wedge-shaped ; deeply cleft at the apex, the sinus being V-shaped, and having two 

 prominent teeth near the base. Leaves: two only ; opposite and growing about 

 midway on the stem; sessile; reniform; abrui)tly pointed at the apex and cordate 

 or sub-cordate at the base, the mid-vein projecting a minute point; slightly pubes- 

 cent underneath. Stem: four to tweh^e inches high; erect; slender ; densely 

 pubescent on the upper part. A'ools : long ; thread-like. 



It is more as a curiosity than anything else that this little orchid receives 

 attention, for in appearance it is most insignificant. In damp mountainous 

 places where it grows the eye must indeed be alert to see it at all, while 

 under the great rhododendron thickets, where perhaps it loves best to hide, 

 one must descend to hands and knees and search for it in that way. 



Z. australis, southern twayblade, is found in bogs and wet places from 

 Louisiana and Florida to New York. Its tiny, yellowish green flowers are 

 delicately striped wnth purple. The sepals and petals are extremely small, 

 but the lip is much larger than they, although at most it measures but half 

 an inch long. Nearly to the base it is cleft into two linear segments. The 

 two opposite leaves below the raceme are ovate and lustrous. 



LARGE TWAYBLADE. {Plate A AAV.) 



Lcpt orchis liliifblia. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Orchid. Dull lilac or pinkish Scentless. Georgia to Mai ue and May-July, 



droivn. ivestivard. 



Flcnvers : showy ; growing in a terminal raceme on an angled scape from four 

 to ten inches high. Sepals and petals reflexed, the latter thread-like. Lip : large ; 



