THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 105 
" Our Lady the Mother of the Romans." Thus to-dav we 
have the name Crpr/pef/7H/77, ^lill -n. rijT- r!'L (-ri-iiial 
common name, Lady's slippers < ' 
names are of European ori*i:ii: 
Indians of Northeastern Am. 
shaped resemblance in thest 
mawcahsun or makkasin-flowr 
The name Orchis, as applu iv had 
its origin in heathen mythoh i- .fa ru- 
ral god, Patellanus, and the ir, . iitended 
the festival of Bacchus, and offendcfi one ot ihc priestesses 
with his behavior. He was reported to one of the attend- 
ants, and they in anger tore him to pieces. The pathetic 
plea'l-riL:-^ hi- ] ii\nt^ w'-'Ax tlie co-deities, influenced the 
' • xvers to arise from the bog- 
i niemorv- of their beautiful 
- range untamable flowers 
- ^ ting symbol of his beauty. 
' - suggestive of purity and 
im mortal! like the roses thev were 
originally i dl-shaped with "a Httle 
clapper u i:! - ■ -j.^, ..{s, each bearing a 
pointed nctL r r - „ot understood 
ino\c(i utiore rne sp.i; t<, distant lands. 
By this means theku-tuu p.-u..-^.: :.u- tlouers during the 
season ot sale are enhanced. 
The Grecian name for lily was AVj>!,t /z;/Jon/s in memory 
of Juno, the protector of marriage. Later the Romans 
knew them as white lilies {Lilium album). Emperor 
Constantine records a beautiful legend of these flowers. 
When Jupiter anrl the nymph Alcmena wished to make 
their son llercuk-s immortal, tiie ehild was carried to the 
])reast of Juno, Jupiter's wife, while she slept in heaven. 
And when it was perceived that the child had been dow- 
ered with immortality and was possessed of extraordi- 
nary strength he was withdrawn from Juno's breast. 
