138 OUR NATIVE ORCHIDS 



masses had been carried ofF in every open flower, and was 

 present only in one bud left unopened, while on the under 

 curve of the uncapped column, where the stigma lies, there 

 was dry pollen adhering and turning blackish. While 

 as a further proof that the work of cross fertilisation is 

 thoroughly carried on, one finds the little twisted green 

 capsules drooping in regular order adown the stalk, after 

 the flowers have blossomed. 



There are about fifteen species of Corallorhiza distrib- 

 uted all through the north temperate zone. In addition to 

 the following some four others occur in the southern and 

 western parts of North America. The cutting of the lip 

 of these small flowers, and the presence or absence of a 

 little sac-like protuberance in place of a spur, are the char- 

 acteristic signs of the different species. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF CORALLORHIZA 



A small, sac-like spur growing to the 

 top of the ovary. 



Lip two-toothed or two-lobed 

 near the base, flowers hanging 

 down on raceme. I. Early Coralroot. 



Lip entire, not notched at end, 



flowers very small. 2. Small-flowered Coralroot. 



Lip entire, notched at end, 

 flowers more than half-inch 

 long, erect. 3. Wister's Coralroot. 



Lip deeply three-lobed, flowers 

 three-quarters of an inch long, 

 erect. 4. Large Coralroot. 



No spur, ovary smooth, flowers 



striped with purple. 5. Striped Coralroot. 



