A Recent Study of the Orchid Flora of Connecticut 



H. M. Den SLOW 



During eight years beginning in 1932, the undersigned, with 

 the help of a few friends, notably Mr. Alton C. Pawsey of Glaston- 

 bury, has made an intensive study of the orchids now growing wild 

 in Connecticut. It seems well to make a record of the results. The 

 nomenclature with one obvious exception, the inclusive genus 

 Habenaria, is that of Britton and Brown, Illustrated Flora, Second 

 Edition, 1913. 



There are 169 townships in the state. All have been visited and 

 explored, some three and four times, a few more frequently. Some 

 observations and collections have been made in the winter months. 



The species most widely distributed and apparently the most 

 abundant is Peramium puhescens (Willd.) McM. ; this has been 

 collected in all but two towns, which are cities, Bridgeport and 

 New London. No record has been found of its previous detection 

 in either of these towns. 



Second in distribution and abundance is Cypripedium acaule, 

 Ait. Next Ibidiinn cernuum and Isotria verticillata are abundant 

 and widely distributed ; the former chiefly in moist roadside banks, 

 often in grassy swamps, and occasionally in open woods ; the latter 

 under various conditions of soil and association ; seldom solitary and 

 often in large colonies ; one in the town of Burlington contains by 

 actual count more than 1,000 vigorous plants. 



The yellow Cypripediums are not common but are found, occa- 

 sionally in large colonies, in scattered townships, in some of which 

 they have persisted for many years. C. hirsntum is disappearing 

 gradually in a large swamp in Canaan. C. arictinum has not been 

 found yet in the state. 



Hartford County, which includes much of the rich river valley 

 and other favorable habitats, supports a much greater number of 

 species than any other county, namely thirty-two of the forty-two 

 recognized in the state; in an area of about one-seventh of the 

 state, including a little more than one-sixth of the 169 towns. 



Fairfield County has the smallest number, thirteen, naturally, 

 since the shore towns are more thickly settled and include many 

 "estates." Of the fourteen genera reported for the state all are 

 represented in Hartford County and one. Serapias, is not found 

 in any other. 



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