ORCHID FAMILY. Orchidaceas. 



drawn together with the pollinia which are already 

 attached to it at the back. When the flower first opens 

 the tube or passage between the rostellum and the lip is 

 exceedingly narrow, hence, the former is easily ruptured 

 by visitors. Later the space widens as the column 

 topped by the rostellum moves upward in the matui'er 

 development of the flower. As a consequence, only 

 those flowers which are mature are sufficiently open for 

 the insect to reach the stigma and thereon leave the 

 pollen of a younger flower. The name is from the 

 Greek, for coil and flower, alluding to the spiral growth 

 of the flowers. 6-24 inches high ; not more than 9 

 inches in northern N. H. In wet meadows and grassy 

 swamps. Me. , south, and west to Minn, and Neb. 



A slender and tall species with grasslike 

 Ladtes^Tre* ses ^S^ reen leaves, and a leafy stem bear- 

 Spiranthes ing a much twisted flower-spike of yellow 

 prcecox white spreading blossoms. The lateral 



Yellowish sepals free, the upper one closely con- 

 Jul *-Au ust necte< * with the two petals, the lip often 



dark-striped. 10-80 inches high. In moist 

 grassy places. Mass, and southern N. Y., south and 

 southwest to La. 



An exceedingly slender and tall species, 

 Tresses smooth or rarely woolly above, bearing 



Spircmthes small withering bracts or leaflets along the 

 grocilis flower-stem which is terminated by a very- 



Cream white mucn twisted cluster of very many slender 

 October flowers, translucent cream white, and very 



fragrant. The odor of Spiranthcs is pe- 

 culiarly aromatic, reminiscent of the horse-chestnut, but 

 remarkably sweet. The sepals of the flower are a little 

 longer than the lip, which is greenish above with white 

 margins. The ovate leaves at the root, wither before the 

 flowers bloom. Visited by the bumblebee (Bombus 

 Americanorum) and the small bee, Calliopsis andreni- 

 formis (Prof. Robertson). 10-22 inches high. Common 

 in dry situations, in pastures, fields, and half- wooded 

 hillsides. Me., south, and west to Minn, and Kan. It 

 is rare in central N. H., where S. cernua is plentiful. 



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