©rcbis family. 



Early Purple Fringed Orchid. Habenaria fimbriata. 



Meadow Pink. 



Found on moist and shaded banks, or beside wayside runlets, in 

 June. 



The single, erect, and leafy stalk, which grows from 15 inches to 2 

 feet in height, is sharp-angled, somewhat twisted, and smooth to the 

 touch. In color it is a cool, pleasing green. 



The lower leaves are sometimes 6 inches long and about 2 wide, 

 above they are small and narrow ; the shape is a long-pointed oblong, 

 deeply indented on the strong midrib ; with an entire margin, and a 

 smooth shining surface. The color is a cool dark green, silvery with 

 bloom underneath. 



The flower is large and beautiful. The lower petal, or lip, is 

 widely spreading and deeply 3-cleft with a fine fringed margin, and a 

 long and slender, curving spur ; the other petals are sharp-pointed, their 

 outer margins notched ; two of the calyx-parts flare like wings at either 

 side, while the third part is erect between the upper petals ; the texture 

 is very fine, and delicate. The color is an exquisite pale lilac, the lip 

 being slightly darker, and fading to a pure waxen white at the throat ; 

 the spur is pale pink, or nearly white. The flowers, on fine, twisted 

 and curved, green foot-stems, are arranged alternately, and close together, 

 in a large feathery spire, each foot-stem springing from the angle of a 

 small leaf or bract. 



The blossoms are slightly odorous, as though no gift had been 

 refused to this lovely Orchid. Not least among its delightsome qualities 

 is the rich toned green of its leaf, contrasting with the fairy lightness 

 of its blossoming spire. 



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