ORCHIS FAMILY. 



ORCHIDACE^. 



Gay Orchis. Orchis spectabilis. 



Showy Orchis. 

 Spring Orchis. 



Found in May, in deep wet woods. 



The large, single, flower-stalk reaches about 6 inches in height, and 

 springs from between a pair of root-leaves ; it is smooth and elastic. 

 Pale green in color. 



The root-leaves are long (sometimes about 6 inches), broadly oval, 

 blunt at the tip, tapering into a grooved foot ; the margin is entii'e (as 

 is true of all Orchids), the texture thick, and leathery. The upper side 

 of the leaf is dull green, underside it is silvery with bloom. The leaves 

 which occur along the flower-spike are long-pointed, erect, clasping, and 

 alternate. 



The lip of the flower is large, and spreading, with a flattened spur 

 which is largest at the tip, and as long as the foot-stem ; other petals 

 small, club-shaped, and bent over like a hood ; the calyx parts stand 

 erect, their tips pointed. All parts of the flower are leathery, and 

 thick in texture ; and colored a pale pink-violet, except the lip, which 

 is waxen white, tinted with yellow. It is set on a short, twisted foot- 

 stem, in the clasp of a leaf-like bract. The arrangement is alternate, in 

 a few-flowered spike. 



This is a noticeably lustreless flower. The twist in the foot-stem 

 is an interesting feature. 



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