Wild-Flower Study 527 



bees which he sent to me had their backs plastered with the pollen. Mr. 

 Barker states that the flowers are not visited frequently by insects, and 

 adds feelingly; "My long waiting was rewarded with little insect activity, 

 aside from the mosquitoes which furnished plenty of entertainment." 



The ovary looks like a widened and ribbed portion of the flower-stem, 

 and is hairy outside ; its walls are thick and obscurely three-angled ; seen 

 in cross-section the seeds are arranged in a triangular fashion which is 

 very pretty. 



The leaves of the yellow lady's slipper are oval or elliptic, with 

 smooth edges and parallel veins ; they often have narrow veins between 

 each two heavier ones. The leaves are of vivid yellowish green and are 

 scattered, in a picturesque manner, alternately along the stem, which 

 their bases completely clasp. The stem is somewhat rough and ribbed 

 and is likely to grow crooked; it grows from one to two feet in height. 

 The roots are a mass of small rootlets. The species is found in woods 

 and in thickets. 



The pink moccasin flower, also called the stemless lady's slipper (C. 

 acaule,) is perhaps prettier than the yellow species, and differs from it in 

 several particulars. The sac opens by the merest crevice, and there are 

 plenty of dark-pink guiding lines which lead to the little opening of the 

 well. The downward-folded edges prevent the visiting insect from 

 getting out by this door even more surely than in the other species. The 

 side petals are not so long as in the yellow species, and they extend for- 

 ward as if to guide the insect to the well in the lower petal. The sepals 

 are greenish purple, and are likewise shorter; and the lower one is wide, 

 indicating that it is made up of two grown together. At the base of the 

 ovary there is a pointed green bract or leaf, which lifts up and bends 

 above the flower. There are but two leaves on the stemless lady's slipper ; 

 they arise from the base of the stem. They are broadly ovate, and from 

 six to seven inches long. This species grows in sandy or rocky woods. 



Another species more beautiful than these is the showy lady's slipper, 

 which is white with a pink entrance to the petal sac. This grows in 

 peaty bogs, and is not so common as the others. 



The interesting points for observation in these flowers are the careful 

 noting of the kinds of insects which visit them, and how they enter and 

 leave the "slipper," or sac. 



LESSON CXXVI 

 The Yellow Lady's Slipper 



Leading thought — The moccasin flower belongs to that family of flowers 

 known as orchids which especially depend upon insects for bringing and 

 carrying pollen, and which have developed many strange devices to secure 

 insect aid in pollenation. 



Method — A bouquet of lady's slippers should be brought to the school- 

 room. Children who bring them should describe the place where they 

 were found. 



Observations — -i. Where does the yellow lady's slipper grow? Look 

 carefully at its leaves and describe them. How do they join the stem? 

 Are they opposite or alternate ? 

 , 2. What is there peculiar about the sepals? How many are there? 



