82. ORCHIDACE^. 313 



2. Stratiotes lAnn. Water Soldier. 



1. S. aloides (L.) ; 1. swordshaped-triangular ciliate-spinous. 

 — E. B. 379. R. vii. 61. — Creeping extensively in the mud. L. 

 many, rigid like those of an Aloe. Stalk compressed, 6 or 6 in. 

 high, with 2 1. near its summit. Fl. white, delicate. The plant 

 rises to the surface of the water to flower and sinks again after- 

 wards. — Fen-ditches in the east of England; naturalized in 

 Scotland. P. VII. E. 



3. Anacharis Rich. Water Thyme. 



*1. A. Alsinastrum (Bab.); 1. 3 in a whorl oval-oblong blunt 

 serrulate, fem. fl. with a tubular bifid spath many times longer 

 than the sessile germen, sep. and pet. broad nearly equal, stigmas 

 reflexed. — A. N. H. Ser. 2. i. t. 8. — St. long, branching, whorls 

 of leaves many, close together. Fl. subtended by a leaflike bract 

 placed within the whorl of leaves, very small, but with a very 

 long tube. Sep. tinged with green and pink externally, incurved, 

 hooded. Pet. flat, diaphanous, recurved, oblong. Filaments at 

 first curved outwards, their points placed under the hood of the 

 sepals, afterwards erect, linear, blunt, diaphanous. Anth. 0. 

 Stigmas recurved, linear, or deeply bifid. Sep. pet. and stigmas 

 of about equal length. Style adnate on 3 sides to the tube. 

 Male fl. unknown ia England. — In water. Probably introduced 

 from America where the same or closely allied species are found. 

 Dunse Castle. Whiteadder River. S. Canals and rivers in 

 England. P. VII.— IX. E. S. 



Order LXXXII. OUCHIDACEiE. 



Sep. 3, usually coloured. Pet. 3, 2 above, 1 below (lip) fre- 

 quently lobed and spurred and unlike the others. Stam. 3, united 

 in a central column, 2 lateral abortive, or (in Cypripedium) the 

 middle one abortive. Pollen powdery or adhering in masses. 

 Ovary 1-celled, inferior, with 3 parietal placentas. Style forming 

 part of the column with the stamens ; stigma a viscid space in 

 front of the column. Caps. 3-valved. Seeds very many, minute. 

 Testa loose, netted. 



Tribe I. OPHUYDINEM. Anther wholly adnate to the co- 

 lumn. Pollen-masses in divisible lobes which are indefinite 

 in number and waxy, stalked. — Root with 2 fleshy entire or 

 palmate knobs below the fibres. 



* Cells of the anther with a rostellate process between their bases. 



1. Orchis. Perianth ringent, hooded. Lip 3-lobed, spurred. 

 Glands of the stalks of the pollen-masses in a common pouch. 



