THE ORCHID REVIEW. 243 
SWAMP ORCHIDS IN SOUTHERN VERMONT. 
A VERY interesting note on ‘The Orchidacez of a series of swamps in 
Southern Vermont” is given by Mr. Le Roy Andrews in a recent number 
of Rhodora (vol. ii., p. 114), which is here reproduced with slight 
abbreviation :-— ; 
A deep cut in the green mountain range of South-Western Vermont 
furnishes an interesting study. The floor of this little valley, which extends 
over a length of some six or eight miles from the vicinity of Pownal, is 
comparatively uniform in level, and the drainage system is therefore 
sluggish and broken up for the most part into a series of ponds, swamps, 
and bays, presenting very diversified conditions of plant-growth. Springs 
of clear, cold water, from the sides of the steeply overhanging mountains, 
help to furnish the conditions so favourable to many members of the 
fastidious family of the Orchidacez. 
The representative species appearing uniformly throughout all the 
swamps is Cypripedium spectabile. Specimens of the pure white form of 
this species are frequently seen. A swamp of deep, black mud, overgrown 
with trees of ordinary deciduous species, and traversed by cold streams, 
furnishes also C. pubescens and gigantic specimens of Habenaria hyperborea. 
The occurrence of Microstylis monophylla in this swamp is interesting, as 
one of the more southerly stations of this plant in New England, and from 
the fact that it has not been hitherto reported from this vicinity. 
A wet meadow near by, also traversed by cold brooks, is, in proper 
season, empurpled and richly perfumed by abundant spikes of Habenaria 
psychodes, interspersed with vigorous specimens of H. lacera. Here also 
occurs, as might be expected, what is very apparently a natural hybrid 
between these two species, of which I may speak more at length at some 
subsequent time. The same meadow furnishes a single dense clump of H. 
virescens. 
A series of peat-bogs further on, however, present the most interesting 
conditions, and reward the botanist most richly. These bogs are mostly 
bare of trees, some of the firmer portions, however, being covered by a 
Sparse growth of young tamaracks. Here in May or early June may be 
found quantities of Arethusa bulbosa, while later appear Calopogon 
pulchellus and Pogonia ophioglossoides in the greatest profusion, in 
charming contrast with the pure white, richly fragrant spikes of Habenaria 
dilatata. Still later comes Spiranthes Romanzoffiana. The occurrence of 
this last species is especially noteworthy as being one of the extreme : 
southern stations of this plant in New England, only a few miles from the 
Massachusetts line. In the higher portions of these swamps Cypripediu 
acaule grows abundantly. The locality is one of great interest. . 
