232 



THE AMERICAN NATURALIST [Vol. XLI 



Evidence from the Family Orchidace.e in North America 



The American Habenarias have been given careful study in 

 our laboratory. In addition to our own collections, those from 

 several of the largest herbaria in the United States have been 

 brought together. The species have been delimited with minute 

 attention and then the distribution of each species, represented 

 by the large amount of material assembled, has been recorded. 

 Thus exceptionally full and reliable returns have been secured, 

 which are available for the present paper. 



H. ciliaris R. Br., and H. blephariglottis Torr., are a pair of 

 perfectly distinct, yet extremely similar species. While instantly 

 distinguishable in the field by their colors — the flowers of the 

 former being yellow or orange, those of H. blephariglottis pure 

 white — the dried specimens are separated only upon close inspec- 

 tion. The best distinguishing character is then the degree of 

 fimbriation of the lip, which is considerably greater in H. ciliaris 

 than in //. blepharigloiiis. No third species stands between 

 them. They are spread together through the eastern United 

 States. H. ciliaris is found in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New 

 York, Ontario, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, 

 Indiana, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, 

 Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, ^Missouri, Arkansas, S. 

 Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, ^Mississippi, Louisiana, 

 Texas. H. blephariglottis is found in Newfoundland, Nova 

 Scotia, New Brunswick, all New England, New York, Ontario, 

 Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia and North 

 Carolina; and if we include the southern form which may possibly 

 be distiuguislied, the range is extended to South Carolina, Georgia, 

 Alal.atiia, and Mi..i^.i].|.i. Whether we allow that the southern 

 form is distinct (m- not i> iininaienal, since it does not stand between 

 //. bh'pharigloffi.s and JI. rl/iaris, and the latter species covers the 

 range of both the northern and the southern forms of the other. 



//. cristata R. Br., H. chapmanii Ames, and //. ciliaris R. 

 Br., form a group of very closely related kinds. //. cristata is 

 like a very small H. ciliaris, with a broader and un-clawed lip, 

 petals oblong or somewhat obovate instead of linear, and a spur 



