IIO SWARZ ON THE GENERA OF ORCHIDEJE, 



singular diversity, both with regard to its compo- 

 sition, and the manner in which it is lodged within 

 the anthers of the different genera. In many, as 

 , for instance in Orchis, Ophrys, &c. it resembles 

 two club-shaped masses, which are supported by 

 means of a fine transparent thread-like pedicle, 

 furnished with a small orbicular gland, above the 

 stigma, at the sides of the above-mentioned blunt- 

 topped point. These masses, which, till mature, 

 remain concealed within the cells of the anthers, 

 appear to be composed of an infinite number of 

 oblong vesicles tapering downwards, and imbri- 

 cate at their narrower extremities. They are 

 transparent, yellowish, white or green, and filled 

 with a fluid into which they seem almost to dis- 

 solve when they come in contact with the stigma. 

 To this fluid their chain-like connexion, which 

 appears in separating them from one another, is 

 likewise owing. No less remarkable is the elasti- 

 city of these masses, particularly in those of the 

 different species of Orchis; in which, when they 

 have been forcibly extended to four times their 

 length, being left to themselves, they immediately 



