192 MANUAL OP BOTANY 



rarely fleshy and indehiscent. Seeds very minute and nume- 

 rous, with a loose netted or rarely hard crustaoeous testa, ex- 

 albuminous ; embryo a fleshy sohd mass. 



Diagnosis. — This order is readily known by its irregular 

 flowers ; by the peculiar form which the labellum in many 

 cases assumes, so as to cause the flower to resemble some 

 insect, reptile, bird, or other living object ; by its gynandrous 

 stamens ; its frequently more or less coherent -poUen ; and by 

 its 1-celled inferior ovary with three parietal placentas. 



Division of the Order. — This order has been divided by 

 Lindley and others into several tribes, the characters being de- 

 rived from the number and position of the anthers, the number 

 and nature of the pollen-masses, and other characters ; but the 

 description of these does not come within the scope of this 

 volume. 



Disirihution and Numbers. — They are more or less abun- 

 dantly distributed in nearly all regions of the globe, except in 

 those which have a very cold or dry climate. Some species are 

 terrestrial and occur chiefly in temperate regions ; others are 

 epiphytical and are confined to hot climates. Illustrative 

 Genera : — Malaxis, 8wa/rtz ; Dendrobium, Swartz ; Oncidium, 

 Swartz ; Stanhopea, Frost ; Orchis, Linn. ; Cypripedium, Linn. 

 The order contains about 5,000 species, 2,000 being in cultiva- 

 tion. 



Properties and Uses. — These plants, which present so much 

 interest from the singularity, beauty, and fragrance of their 

 flowers, are of little importance from an economic or medicinal 

 point of view. Some are aromatic and fragrant, and are used 

 as flavouring agents, several possess nutritious roots, and a few 

 are antispasmodic and aphrodisiac. 



Orders. Apostasiace^, the Apostasia Order. — Character. 

 Herbs, with regular hermaphrodite flowers. Perianth superior, 

 regular, with 6 divisions. Stamens 2 or 3, united by their 

 filaments with the lower part of the style into a column ; 

 anthers sessile upon the column, 2 or 3. Ovary inferior, 3- 

 celled, with axile placentation ; ovules numerous ; style united 

 below with the filaments into a column, but prolonged above 

 into a filiform process. Capsule 3-celled, 3-valved. Seeds very 

 numerous. By Bentham and Hoolcer this order is included in 

 Orchidacece. 



Distribution and, Numbers.— HsXbfea of .damp woods in 

 tropical India. Illustrative Genus : — Apostasia, Blume. There 

 are about 5 species. Their properties are altogether unknown. 



