38 OUR NATR E ORCHIDS 



lying against the surface of the stigma. Yet their oval 

 discs still retain their stickiness, and as they are placed in 

 the same position relative to the mouth of the spur as in 

 other Habenarias, a visiting insect is apt to dravs^ off a part 

 of the pollen mass from its position on the stigma and to 

 transfer it to another flower. In such a case the flower 

 gets the benefit of cross fertilisation as well as self 

 fertilisation. 



Darwin and Asa Gray, who corresponded with each 

 other in this curious exception to the usual rule of cross 

 fertilisation, could not tell whether the Tall Leafy Green 

 Orchis bore its full complement of seeds or not. This is an 

 opportunity for further observation, as well as for 

 meditating in the company of scientists and philosophers 

 on the question as to what economic force has so affected 

 these orchids that with every contrivance at hand for cross 

 fertilisation, they nevertheless persist in trying to fertilise 

 themselves. 



Possibly because of the plant's arctic tendencies, it has 

 not always been able to attract insects to its hyperborean 

 latitudes. It is reported as far north as Alaska, and 

 is known in Greenland and Iceland. Could it have 

 been forced to fertilise itself in those cold regions, and 

 have perpetuated the tendency in warmer climes .? It 

 grows as far south as New Jersey, Colorado and Oregon, but 

 where the country is mountainous it climbs high, 6,000 and 

 even 8,000 feet. It blooms from May to August, according 

 to its latitude and altitude. 



