268 ORCHIDACE^. Microstylis. 



1. MICROSTYLIS. Niitt. gen. 2. p. 196; (subgenus of Malaxis), Lindl. gen. ^ sp. 



Orch. pi. p. 18. ADDER' S-MOUTH. 



[From viicros, little, and stylos, a column.] 



Sepals spreading, distinct ; the lateral ones equal at the base. Petals filiform or linear, 

 spreading. Lip widely spreading, excavated and sagittate or auriculate at the base, not 

 tuberculate. Column very small, with 2 teeth or auricles at the summit. Anthers two- 

 celled. Pollen-masses 4, collateral, cohering by pairs at the apex. — Pseudobulbous. Stem 

 with one or two leaves. Flowers minute, racemose. 



1. Microstylis monophyllos, Lindl. Short-stalked Adder' s-mouth. 



Stem witli a single leaf near the base ; raceme spicate, slender, elongated ; flowers about 

 as long as the pedicels. — Lindl. Orch. p. 19 ; Hook. fl. Bor -Am. 2. p. 193. M. brachy- 

 poda. Gray in ann. lye. New-York, 3. p. 228. Tipularia discolor, Beck, hot. p. 350, not of 

 Nutt. Malaxis monophyllos, Willd. sp. A. p. 90. Ophrys monophyllos, Linn.sp. 2. p. 946. 



Pseudobulb ovoid. Stem 2-8 inches high, triangular, with two of the angles somewhat 

 winged. Leaf solitary (rarely two), ovate-elliptical, about 2 inches long, contracted into a 

 petiole at the base, and sheathing the lower part of the stem. Raceme 20 - 40-flowered ; 

 many of the flowers often abortive. Bracts minute, subulate, shorter than pedicels, which 

 are 1-2 lines long and erect. Sepals spreading, oblong-lanceolate, acute. Lateral petals 

 linear, attenuate upwards, appressed to the ovary. Lip triangular-hastate, with a long acu- 

 mination ; the lateral lobes obtuse. 



Deep shady swamps : Fairfield, Herkimer county {Prof. J. Hadley) ; Bridgewater, Oneida 

 county {Dr. Gray <^ Dr. Bradley). Fl. July. 



2. Microstylis ophioglossoides, JVutt. Long-stalked Adder' s-mouth. 



Stem with a single ovate clasping leaf near the middle ; raceme obtuse, many-flowered ; the 

 pedicels much longer than the flowers. — Nut. gen. 2. p. 196 ; Lindl. in hot. reg. t. 1290, and 

 sp. Orc/i. p. 19 ; Beck, bot. p. 513 ; Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 193 ; Durlingt.fl. Cest. p. 193. 

 Mala.xis ophioglossoides, Willd. sp. 4. p. 90 ; Pursh,fl. 2. p. 592 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 503 ; Bart, 

 fl. N. Amer. 3. t. 92. /. 2 ; Torr. compend. p. 322. M. unifolia, Michx. fl. 2. p. 157 ; 

 Bigel.fl. Bost. p. 324. 



Pseudobulb ovoid. Stem or scape 4-10 inches long, slender, angular. Leaf about 2 

 inches long, rather acute, sessile and sheathing or clasping. Flowers very numerous, about 

 2 lines in diameter, pale green, collected into a short raceme, many of them abortive, the 

 lower ones distant : pedicels 3-6 lines long. Bracts much shorter than the pedicels, ovate- 

 lanceolate. Sepals oblong Lateral petals narrowly linear. Lip erect, obtusely auriculate 

 on each side at the base, 3-loothed at the summit, the intermediate tooth small. Column very 

 small, slightly projected. Capsules small, nearly globose. 



Low moist grounds, particularly about the roots of trees : not common. Fl. iviiy. Fr. 

 October. 



