812 



THE -ORCHID FAMILY. 



VI. LISTERA. LISTEEA. 



Herbs, with 2 leaves at some distance from the ground, placed so 

 near together as to appear opposite, and small, green flowers in a slender 

 raceme. Sepals broader than the petals, otherwise all nearly alike, 

 short and spreading ; the lip longer, linear, and 2-cleft. Anther fixed 

 by its base in a cavity at the top of the short column ; the pollen as in 

 JEjpipactis. 



A small European, north Asiatic, and North American genus, 

 readily known among the small-flowered, spurless Orchids by the 

 foliage. 



Leaves ovate, narrowed at the base, 2 to 4 inches long . 1. Twayblade L. 

 Leaves broad or cordate at the base, not an inch long . 2. Heart-leaved L. 



1. Twayblade Listera. Listera ovata, Br. (Fig, 976.) 



{Ophrys, Eng. Bot. t. 1548. Twayblade.) 



The rootstock has a mass of clustered, 

 thickish fibres, but not near so succulent 

 as in the Bird" s-nest Neottia. Stem 1 to 

 near 1^ feet high, with 2 or 3 sheathing 

 scales at the base, and at about 6 inches 

 from the ground a pair of broadly ovate, 

 green leaves, 2 to 4 inches long. Ra- 

 ceme rather long and slender. Sepals 

 and petals about 1\ to near 2 lines long ; 

 the lip twice as long, ending in two 

 linear lobes. 



In moist pastures, and woods, through- 

 out Europe and Russian Asia, except 

 the extreme north. Frequent in Bri- 

 tain. FL spring and summer. 





Fig. 976. 



2. Heart-leaved Listera. Listera cordata, Br. (Fig. 977.) 



(Ophrys, Eng. Bot. t. 358.) 



A much smaller and more slender plant than the Twayblade L. 9 

 usually about 6 inches high. Leaves seldom above f inch long, very 



