10 ORCHIDS. 
“The flowers of all orchids” (we quote now from the last 
and very recent issue of the “ Encyclopaedia Britannica”), “ though 
extremely diverse within certain limits, and superficially very 
different from those of other monocotyledons, are all formed 
upon one common plan, which is only a modification of that 
observable in such flowers as the narcissus or snowdrop. 
“The conformation of those flowers consists, essentially, in 
the presence of a six-parted perianth, the three outer segments of 
which correspond to a calyx, and the three inner ones to a corolla. 
These segments spring, apparently, from the top of the ovary; 
the real explanation, however, being that the end of the flower- 
stalk or thalamus, as it grows, becomes dilated into a sort of cup 
or tube closely enclosing and adhering to the ovary, so that the 
latter organ appears to be beneath the perianth, instead of above 
it, as in a lily. 
“Within the perianth, and springing from its sides, are six 
stamens, whose anthers contain pollen grains. These stamens 
encircle a style which is the upward continuation of the ovary, 
and which shows at its free end traces of the three originally sepa- 
rate but now blended carpels of which the ovary consists. 
“A main distinguishing feature is, that one of the inner pieces 
of the perianth becomes in course of its growth much larger than 
the rest, and usually in texture, color, and Out has a distinct 
name, —/p or labellum.” 
