530 



CXL. ORCHlDACEjE. 



Li PARIS. 



Ova. l-celled, with 3 parietal placentae. Ovules indefinite. 



Sty. consolidated with the stamens. Stig. a viscid cavity in front of the column. 



Fr. Capsule 3-ribbed, 3-valved. Sds. many, without albumen. 



Genera 394, species 3000 ? They are among the most interesting and curious of plants, almost always 

 remarkable for the grotesque form of their tortuous roots and stems, and the fragrance, brilliancy and odd 

 structure of the flowers. 



The OrchidaCteEB are natives of every part of the world. In the tropics multitudes of them are epiph- 

 ytes, growing on living trees or decaying timber. 



This order is remarkable for those qualities only which please the eye. Many of its species are culti- 

 vated for ornament, but few of them possess either active or useful properties. The salep ot commerce 

 is a nutritive mucilaginous substance afforded by the roots of some Asiatic Orchis. The aromatic va- 

 nilla, used to flavor chocolate, &c., is the fruit of the West Indian Vanilla claviculata. 



Conspectus of the Genera. 



SECTION 1. Pollen cohering in grains which finally become waxy, 

 and are definite in number. 



1. MICROSTYLIS. Nutt. 



Gr. niKpos, little, crrvXof , style ; alluding to the slender column. 



Segments of the perianth distinct, petals filiform ; lip sessile, 

 concave, erect, truncate and bidentate at summit ; column minute ; 

 pollinia 4, loose. 



1. M. OPHIOGLOSSOIDES. Nutt. (Malaxis orph. Wittd^ M. unifolia. 

 Michx.) Lf. solitary, ovate, amplexicaul ; st. 5-angled ; roc. short, obtuse, 



capitate ; pedicels much longer than the flowers. A small plant, in woods, &c., 

 Can. and N. States. Stem 5 9' high, with a single leaf a little below the 

 middle. This leaf is rather acute, smooth, ovate or oval, about 2 7 in length, 1 

 in width. At the base of the stem is an abrupt sheath. Flowers whitish, 

 minute, numerous, in a terminal raceme an inch or more in length, dense at 

 top. Bracts minute. Pedicels about 4" long. June, 



2. M. MONOPHYLLOS. Liridl. (M. brachypoda. Gray. Malaxis mon. 

 Willd.} Leaf solitary, ovate, sheathing at base; rac. elongated, with 



numerous flowers on short pedicels ; bracts minute ; sep. acute, spreading ; late- 

 ral pet. reflexed, linear ; lip triangular-hastate, cucullate, acuminate with a 

 recurved point. In shady swamps, N. Y., rare. Prof. Hadley. Dr. Gray. Stem 

 2 & high, 3-angled, with a subspicate raceme of 20 46 small, greenish 

 flowers. July. 



2. LIPlRIS. Rich. 

 Gr. XtTrapo?, elegant, shining ; a term characteristic of these plants. 



Segments of the perianth distinct, sublinear, spreading or deflex- 

 ed ; lip spreading, flat, ascending, often exterior ; column winged ; 

 pollinia 4, parallel with each other, without pedicels or glands. 



1. L. LILIFOLIA. Rich. (Malaxis lilifolia. Sw.) Tway-hlade. 



Lvs. 2, ovate-lanceolate; scape triangular; inner ^/.filiform, reflexed; 

 lip concave, obovate, acute at the tip. In wet woods, Can. to Car., Ohio. 

 Leaves radical, 3 6' long, J as wide, rather acute, tapering into a sheath- 

 ing base. Scape about 6' high. Flowers 10 20, in a terminal, rather showy 

 raceme. Pedicels near an inch in length. The 3 sepals greenish-white, linear. 

 2 upper petals capillary, yellowish-white. Lip much larger than the other 

 petals, white. June. 



