452 orchidace^e. (orchis family.) 



2. B. capitata. Stems setaceous, simple ; leaves subulate, scattered ; 

 flowers several in a terminal cluster, white, tinged with blue ; perianth 3-angled, 

 wingless, the interior lobes linear, erect ; seeds Linear-oblong, spirally striate. 

 (Tripterella capitata, Michx.) — Low or swampy pine barrens, Florida to North 

 Carolina. Sept. - Nov. — Stems 2' - 6' high. 



2. APTERIA, Nutt. 



Fcrianth terete, tubular-bell-shaped, 6-cleft, with the 3 interior lobes smaller. 

 Stamens 3, very short, opposite the interior lobes of the perianth, the filaments 

 flat and orbicular at the apex : anthers closely adhering to the globose stigmas. 

 Ovary 1 -celled, with three 2-winged parietal placentas. Capsule obovate, split- 

 ting from the base into three valves, which remain attached to the apex of the 

 persistent placenta. Seeds ovoid. — A small perennial herb, with sulmlate 

 bract-like leaves, and scattered nodding flowers. 



1. A. setacea, Nutt. Deep shady woods, along the margins of swamps, 

 Florida, Georgia, and westward. Sept. and Oct. — Stem erect or ascending, 

 purple, filiform, simple or branched, 2' -8' high. Leaves scattered. Flowers 

 few, distant, on nodding pedicels. Perianth white, 5" long. 



Order 142. ORCHIDACE^E. (Orchis Family.) 



Perennial herbs, with simple stems, from thick fibrous or tuberous roots, 

 nerved leaves, and irregular often showy flowers. — Perianth 6-parted, 

 united below with the 1-eelled ovary; the three outer divisions (calyx) 

 and commonly two of the inner ones (petals) similar in form ; but the 

 third, posterior, or, by the twisting of the ovary, anterior one (Labettum or 

 Li])) differs from the others in form, and often bears a spur or prominence 

 at the base beneath. Stamens 3, united Avith the style into a column, 

 one or (in Cypripedium) two only bearing a 2-celled anther. Pollen- 

 grains cohering in 2, 4, or 8 waxy or powdery masses (Pollinia). Cap- 

 sule with three parietal placentae, splitting at the sides into three valves. 

 Seeds very numerous, minute, covered with a loose membranaceous testa. 

 Albumen none. — Plants mostly smooth and more or less succulent. 

 Leaves almost always alternate, sheathing and entire. Stems Leafy or 

 scape-like. Flowers bracted, solitary, spiked, or racemed, and remark- 

 able for their various and singular forms. 



Synopsis. 



I. Anther solitary, fixed to the apex of the eolumn like a Ud, deciduous. 

 Tribe I. MALAXIDK.K. — lMlen in smooth waxy masses, without stalks or connect- 

 ing ttlSOe. — Uoots tuberous. 



* Stems leafy. 



1 MICROSTYLIS. Lip oardato or sagittate. Column minute,' 2-toothed at the apex. 

 2. LIPABI8. Lip entire. Column elongated, incurred, margined at the apex. 



