116 THE ORCHIDS OF NEW ENGLAND. 
occupied had they been developed. Not only do they stand 
in this position but the column in some cases . . . has on 
each side a prominent ridge, running from them to the bases 
or mid-ribs of the two upper petals; that is, in the proper 
position of the filaments of these two stamens. It is impossi- 
ble to doubt that the two membranes of the clinandrum in 
Malaxis are formed by these two anthers in a rudimentary and 
modified condition. Now, from the perfect clinandrum of 
Malaxis, through that of 
Spiranthes, Goodyera, 4f7- 
pactis latifolia, and E. pa- 
lustris, to the minute and 
- Slightly flattened auricles 
in the genus Orchis, a 
perfect gradation can be 
traced. Hence I conclude 
Fic, 36. 
x. Front view of flower of Yellow Fringed-Orchis. 
2. Side view (natural position). 
3. The anther with its auricle. 
4. 
5. 
that these auricles are 
doubly rudimentary; that 
A pollinium. is they are rudiments of 
Flower of Green Fringed-Orchis. (From Sweet.) 
the membranous sides of 
the clinandrum, these membranes themselves being rudiments 
of the two anthers so often referred to. . . . Such vessels 
may quite disappear. . . . The two upper anthers of the 
inner whorl are fertile in Cypripedium, and in other cases are 
generally represented either by membranous expansions or by 
minute auricles. . . . These auricles, however, are some- 
times quite absent, as in some species of Ophrys.” * 
Summer, in her flight, invariably forgets to drop one flower 
from her cornucopia at the proper time; at least it seems so, 
when we behold at this late day, in|damp woods, a little pliant 
that brings the Pogonias to mind. It is the Nodding or Pendent 
Pogonia (P. pendula), and has still another name, 777phora pen- 
dula, none as musical as the rustic one, Three Birds. This Po- 
* See, also, Sachs’ Text Book of Botany, 1872, p. 603. 
