■s 



"'i^"»- 



82 SHOWY ORCHIS. 



flowered and many-bracted spike; the bracts are dark-green, 

 sharp-pointed, and leafy; the root a bundle of round white fibres; 

 the leaves, two in number, are large, blunt, oblong, shining, 

 smooth, and oily, from three to five inches long, one larger than 

 the other. The fiowering time of the species is May and June. 

 Our forest glades and boggy swamps hide many a rare and 

 precious fiower known but to few ; among some of the most beau- 

 tiful of this interesting group of plants, we might direct attention to 

 the elegant and rare Calypso borealis, Fogonia trfphoria, and 

 Pogonia pendula. The beautiful Grass Pink, Calopogon pulchellus, 

 with many others of the Orchidacca^ tribe, may be regarded 

 as flower gems to be prized alike for their exquisite forms and 

 colouring as for their scarcity. 



These lovely Orchids, transplanted to the greenhouse or 

 conservatory, would be regarded as objects of great interest, but 

 are rarely seen and little valued by the careless passer-by, if he 

 chances upon them in their forest haunts. 



