424 



LXXXIX. OKCHIDACE^. 



in the spatha. Perianth G-iparted. Stam. 12—13, surrounded 

 "by 23 — 24 imperfect linear ligulate ones. — Fertile Jl, solitary in 

 each spatha. Tube of the perianth not longer than the ovary; 

 limb 6-parted. Sterile stamens numerous. Stigmas 6, linear, 

 bifid. Fruit baccate, 6-celled, many-seeded.— Leaves sessile, 

 radical^ a^owded, narrow. — ISTame : arparioyT^^Q, a soldier, froiu 

 (TTparog, an army ; on account of the numerous sword-like 

 leaves. 



1. S. aloides L. (Water- Soldier) ; leaves sword-shaped trian- 

 ixular aculeate-serrate. F. B. t. 379. 



* Lakes and ditches, particularly common in the fenny parts of Nor- 

 folk and Lincolnshire. Rare in the north : planted in the Lochs of 

 Duddingston, Forfar, and Cluny, Scotland. 1/-. 7. — A singular 

 plant, with numerous radical leaves, thrown up from creeping runners^ 

 which penetrate far into the mud. Scape 4—6 inches long, compressed, 

 i^-ed"-ed- Flowers white, from a compressed 2 -leaved spatha. The 

 flowers are dioecious, but sometimes the stamens on the fertile flower 

 become perfect. 



I 



Okb. LXXXIX. ORCHID ACE/E. 



Perianth of 6 segments in 2 rows, mostly coloured ; one, the 

 lowest (so situated from the twisting of the ovary) usually 

 differing in form from the rest and often spurred. Stamens 3, 

 united with the style in a central column, the two lateral ones 

 usually abortive, or sometimes the central one (in Cypripedium). 

 Anther often deciduous, 2 — 4 — 8-celled. Pollen powdery or 

 waxy, cohering In masses. Ovary 1 -celled, with 3 parietal 

 receptacles. Stjjle forming part of the column with the 

 stamens. Stigma a viscid space in front of the column. Capsule 

 (rarely a berry) 3-valved. Seeds numerous ; testa loose, reticu- 

 lated. Albumen 0. — Herbaceous plants, the terrestrial species 

 having often knob-like roots. Many tropical species are epi- 

 phytes. ¥lo\Y ers generally handsome^ in spikes or racemes. 

 The knobs of several species afford Salep. 

 Vanilla is the seed-vessel of Vanilla aromatica. 



The fragrant 



I. Anther 1, terminal. Pollen-masses smoofli (not granular) \ pollen cohe- 

 ring firmly in a definite immber of simple tohesj each of which is a 

 pollen-mass, and finally waxy {or rarely pulverulent when bruised in 

 water). 



f 



■ 1. Malaxis. Outer sepals widely spreading. Lip superior, quite entire 

 . - and similar to the other inner sepals. Spur 0. Anther opening 



longitudinally. Pollen-masses 4, in a double row. 

 2. LirARis. Outer sepals widely spreading. Lip inferior, quite entire, 

 larger than the other linear inner sepals. Spur 0. Anther opening 

 longitudinally, rollen-masses 4, in a single row. 



I 



