452 ORCHIDACE^E. (ORCHIS FAMILY.) 



2. B. capitata. Stems setaceous, simple ; leaves subulate, scattered ; 

 flowers several in a terminal cluster, white, tinged with blue ; perianth 3-angled, 

 wingless, the interior lobes linear, erect ; seeds linear-oblong, spirally striate. 

 (Tripterella capitata, Michx.) Low or swampy pine barrens, Florida to North 

 Carolina. Sept. - Nov. Stems 2' - 6' high. 



2. APTERIA, Nutt. 



Perianth terete, tubular-bell-shaped, 6-cleft, with the 3 interior lobes smaller. 

 Stamens 3, very short, opposite the interior lobes of the perianth, the filaments 

 flat and orbicular at the apex : anthers closely adhering to the globose stigmas. 

 Ovary 1-celled, with three 2-winged parietal placentae. Capsule obovate, split- 

 ting from the base into three valves, which remain attached to the apex of the 

 persistent placentae. Seeds ovoid. A small perennial herb, with subulate 

 bract-like leaves, and scattered nodding flowers. 



1. A. setacea, Nutt. Deep shady woods, along the margins of swamps, 

 Florida, Georgia, and westward. Sept. and Oct. Stem erect or ascending, 

 purple, filiform, simple or branched, 2' - 8' high. Leaves scattered. Flowers 

 few, distant, on nodding pedicels. Perianth white, 5" long. 



ORDER 142. ORCHIDACE^E. (ORCHIS FAMILY.) 



Perennial herbs, with simple stems, from thick fibrous or tuberous roots, 

 nerved leaves, and irregular often showy flowers. Perianth 6-parted, 

 united below with the 1-celled ovary ; the three outer divisions (calyx) 

 and commonly two of the inner ones (petals) similar in form ; but the 

 third, posterior, or, by the twisting of the ovary, anterior one (Labellum or 

 Lip) differs from the others in form, and often bears a spur or prominence 

 at the base beneath. Stamens 3, united with the style into a column, 

 one or (in Cypripedium) two only bearing a 2-celled anther. Pollen- 

 grains cohering in 2, 4, or 8 waxy or powdery masses (Pollinia). Cap- 

 sule with three parietal placentae, splitting at the sides into three valves. 

 Seeds very numerous, minute, covered with a loose membranaceous testa. 

 Albumen none. Plants mostly smooth and more or less succulent. 

 Leaves almost always alternate, sheathing and entire. Stems leafy or 

 scape-like. Flowers bracted, solitary, spiked, or racemed, and remark- 

 able for their various and singular forms. 



Synopsis. 



I. Anther solitary, fixed to the apex of the column like a lid, deciduous. 

 TRIBE I. MAL AXIDE^E. Pollen in smooth -waxy masses, without stalks or connect- 

 ing tissue. Roots tuberous. 



* Stems leafy. 



1. MICROSTYLIS. Lip cordate or sagittate. Column minute, 2-toothed at the apex. 



2. LIPARIS. Lip entire. Column elongated, incurred, margined at the apex. 



