44 OUR NATIVE ORCHIDS 



an altitude of 6,000 feet in North Carolina and of 2,500 feet 

 in the Green Mountains. It is a common orchid and one 

 that is easily recognised by its very slender-angled grass-like 

 stem and its single long, broad leaf that clasps the stem 

 about one-quarter of the distance from its thick, fibrous 

 root. This large base leaf, which is usually four or five 

 inches long and an inch broad, is followed by a small lance- 

 shaped leaf that clasps the stem a little higher up; and then 

 come three or four tiny bract-like leaves, and finally the loose 

 spike, not more than two inches long, of small greenish- 

 white flowers. The whole plant does not exceed eighteen 

 inches in height, and is generally about a foot high. 



The spikes are loose and small, about two inches long, 

 and having ten to twelve half-inch blossoms, though often 

 there are but five or six. Below each flower grows a tiny 

 leaf-like bract that is shorter than its twisted ribbed ovary, 

 and curving beneath each lip is a long, slender spur. The 

 lip is the distinguishing feature of this species, as it broadens 

 at the apex and is three-toothed. 



The name clavellata means "little club," and refers to 

 the club-shaped spur. The orchid was formerly called 

 tridentata, possibly because its lip was three-notched, but 

 more probably because of three teeth or knobs or horns that 

 appear on the stigma. One lies outside each anther cell 

 and one between the cells. These may be, according to 

 Gray, who described them, sterile stamens. He notes that 

 they are sticky on their surfaces, and the spontaneously 

 detached grains of pollen stick fast to them and "send 



