98 OUR NATIVE ORCHIDS 



The leaves are the characteristic sign of this species. 

 They are very long and narrow, and, growing in grassy 

 places, the flower stalk appears to rise naked among the 

 grass blades — so closely do the long leaves resemble long 

 grass. They are from two to twelve inches long, about 

 the same length as the leaves of the Nodding Lady's- 

 Tresses, but in the latter the leaves are apt to be 

 slightly wider at the tips, while in this species they are 

 distinctly lance shaped and clasp the stem with long, 

 sheathing petals. 



The spike, which grows from two to eight inches long, 

 is twisted around and around, so that the flowers grow, 

 to all appearances, as though they were looking back- 

 ward with necks craned. The interrupted appearance 

 that the twisting gives the spike, is, however, very artistic 

 as well as characteristic. 



The stem bears one rank of flowers that are rather open 

 in their appearance • and follow the spiral of the much- 

 twisted stem. At the base of the flowers are leafy bracts as 

 long as the ovaries. The flowers are white or yellowish and 

 about one-third of an inch long (Fig. 2). Their lateral 

 sepals are free, but the upper one converges with the two 

 upper petals. The lip is about a quarter of an inch long and 

 spreads out a little at the bottom, and is slightly contracted 

 above. The margin is loosely wavy and there are dark 

 stripes in the centre and tiny nipple-shaped callosities at the 

 base (Fig. 3). 



This orchid is rather uncommon. It resembles the 



