SECT. xiii. ORCHIDACEJE. 389 



vances and adaptations which enable insects to detach 

 the pollen from one blossom, and carry it to fertilize 

 another blossom. 



The British Orchidese belong mainly to three natural 

 groups : the Ophrese, which comprise the Orchis, Ophrys, 

 and other common Orchids ; the Neottese, comprising 

 Epipactis, Neottia, Spiranthes, &c. ; and the Malaxese, 

 represented by Malaxis. Orchids have white, fibrous 

 roots, and many of them a pair of fleshy tubercles. 



Fig. 72. Orchis mascula : A, side view of flower, with a portion cut away ; B, section 

 through one side of rostellum, with included disc and caudicle of pollinium ; a, 

 anther ; r, rostellnm ; d, disc. 



From thence a straight stem springs up, ending in a 

 spike of blossoms, each of which is attached to the stem 

 by a twisted stalk, containing the ovarium, as. repre- 

 sented in fig. 72. Ribbed lanceolate leaves rise from 

 the roots, and some are attached sparingly to alternate 

 sides of the stem. The calyx is formed of three pointed 

 sepals, one perpendicular, the others horizontal. Instead 

 of being green they are usually coloured. Sometimes 

 the whole plant is green. One petal (fig. 72) is much 

 larger than the others, occasionally assuming the most 



