GYXANDRIA MONANDRIA 



5(71 



fel with the column, shovel-shaped, unguiculate, with 2 callous proce*. 

 e g at base# Column free, clavate, bidentate at summit. Ovary ob- 

 lique; stigma prominent, rostrate. 



1 S tortilis, Rich. Radical leaves lance-linear; scape sheathed" ; 

 flowers spirally twi.stcd ; lip somewhat 3-lobed, the middle lobe larger, 

 crenulate. Back, Bot. p. 343. 

 Ophrys aestivalis 1 Mr. Am. 2. p. 157. 



Neottia tortilis. Willd. Sp. 4. /;. 74. Pets. Syn. 2, p. 51 1. Muhl. 

 Catal p. SO. Puvsh, Am. 2. p. 589. Nutt. Gen. 2. p. 190. Bart. 

 Phil. 2. p. 139. Ell. Sk. 2. p. 491. Bart. Am. 1. p. 127 (Icon, tab. 

 2o.f.2.). Florul. Cestr.p.Oi. Ton\ Comp. p. 320. Eat.Man.p.234. 

 Jlso ? N. aestivalis. Pers. /. c. 

 Twisted Spirantiies. Vulgo — Lady's Traces, or Tresses. 



Root perennial, fleshy and fasciculate, whitish. Leaves radical, 3 to C inche • 

 ion" and 1 sixth lo near 1 third of an inch wide, acute, narrowed at base, smooth, 

 mostly withering and disappearing before the flowers expand, leaving the plant 

 apparently leafless. Scape 9 to 18 inches high, erect, slender, smooth, sheathed 

 with acuminate scales. Flowers small, white, in a spirally twisted terminal 

 smoothish spike 2 to 4 inches long; bract* elliptic, or ovate-oblong, acuminate, 

 smooth, or minutely pubescent, longer than the ovaries. Capsule smooth. 



Var. b. gracilis, Torr. Radical leaves elliptic, or ovate-oblongf ; 



lip spatulate, crisped. 



S. gracilis. Beck, Bot. p. 343. 



Neottia gracilis. Bigel. Bost. p. 322. Eat. Man. p. 234. 



N. tortilis, var. gracilis. Torr. Comp. p. 320. 



Radical leaves 1 to 2 inches long, and 1 third lo half an inch wide, elliptic- 

 oblong, acute, thinnish, nerved, smooth, narrowed at base to a short membranous 

 petiole, mostly enduring longer than the preceding. 



Bab. Moist grounds; meadows, &c. frequent. Fl. July— Aug. Fr. Sept— Octo. 



Obs. The Ophrys astivalis, of Michaux, is generally cited as a Synonym of 

 this-; and if correctly so, the phrase "srapo folioso" is unusually erroneous, for 

 (hat Auth>r. The Neottia gracilis, of Bigelow, (Spira?ithes gracilis, Beck), \s 

 pretty distinct in its radical leaves (approaching N. spiralis, of Europe), and 

 somewhat different in its flowers ; but I have concluded to follow Dr. Torrey, for 

 the present, in reducing it to a variety. It was collected by D. Townsend, Esq. in 

 1829. 



2. S. cerxua, Rich. Leaves linear-lanceolate, nerved; scape sheath- 

 ed; flowers obliquely recurved and cernwous, in a dense spike ; lip ob- 

 long, obtuse, crisped and crenate. Beck, Bot. p. 344. 

 Ophrys cernua. Mx. Am. 2. p. 158. 



Neottia cernua. JVilld. and most of the Authors here cited. 

 Nodding Spiranthes. 



Root perennial, fleshy, fasciculate. Leaves radical, or near the base of the* 

 icape, 3 or 4 to 10 or 12 inches long, and 1 fourth to half an inch wide, linear-lan- 

 ceolate, acute, somewhat fleshy or succulent, narrowed below the middle, sessile* 

 sheathing at base. Srape 6 to 12 or 15 inches high, stouter and more succulent than 

 th* preceding, smoothish at base, pubescent above, bearing loosely-sheathing acu- 

 minate scales, or imperfect leaves (so.netimes leafy). Floiceis rather large*- 



