294 TiMEHRI, 



resembles in habit a young palm ; the flower-spike pro- 

 ceeding from the base and the flowers opening at in- 

 tervals : — 



I. E. parviflorum ... Flowers almost hidden, white. 



4. WuUschlaegelia. — A single species, a tiny saprophyte 

 growing on the ground in the forest. The whole plant 

 consists of a leafless stem about six inches high with a 

 few small flowers at the top : — 



I. W. aphylla ... Flowers pale white. 



5. Stenoptera. — Semi-terrestrial plantsgrowingamong 

 mosses, with rosettes of leaves, and inconspicuous flowers 

 in spikes. Two species : — 



1. S. viscosa ... Flowers pale. 



2. S. adnata ... Flowers greenish white.| 



6. Neottia. — Allied to the next genus. Terrestrial 

 plants with inconspicuous flowers. One species : — 



I. N. lanceolate 



7. Spiranthes. — Terrestrial plants with thick fleshy 

 roots, and clustered leaves which often wither before the 

 flower stem is produced. Spikes sometimes spirally 

 twisted, flowers half hidden among bra6ls. None of the 

 species are showy although one is worth growing for its 

 white-spotted foliage. Six species : — 



1. S. bicolor ... Spike spirally twisted, flowers small 



greenish, lip white. 



2. S. pifta ... Spike not twisted, flowers larger, similar 



in colour to the last. 



3. S. elata ... Spike twisted, flowers small greenish. 



4. S. tenuis ... Spike not twisted, flowers white shining. 



5. S. Hostmanni ... Spike twisted, flowers very small greenish. 



6. S. orchioides ... Spike not tv/isted, flowers lurid. 



8. Pelexia. — A genus allied to the above. One 

 species :— 



I. P. aphylla. 



