ORCHIDS AT HOME. 
PART I. 
The name Orchid is an occult term to many plant- 
lovers, recalling rather the tropic forests or the con¬ 
servatories of the wealthy than our own woods and 
meadows. An Orchid, IJotanically described, is an 
herb, distinguished by very irregular flowers; perianth 
of six divisions, in two sets, the three outer ones are 
called sepales, the inner ones petals. One of the inner 
set differs more or less in shape, color, etc., from the 
others, and is called the labellum or lip. The leaves are 
alternate and parallel-nerved, the flowers often showy, 
commonly singular in shape, and in all arranged for 
fertilization by insects; very few are capable of self- 
fertilization. 
The family—a very large one, by the way—may be 
divided into two great classes, the terrestrial and the epi¬ 
phytal. The terrestrial Orchids grow upon the earth, 
while the epiphytal, as the Greek adjective implies, 
grow on some other body, and draw their nourishment 
from the air. The Orchids of the latter class, which 
are known as “ air-plants,” are only found in the 
warmer parts of the earth; while those of the first 
class extend through the temperate zone, even into the 
Arctic Circle. Terrestrial Orchids are well represented 
in our country, but few of the air-plants are natives of 
North America. They are found at varied altitudes, 
from low- plains to 14,000 feet above the sea level. One 
of the epiphytes, Oncidimn nubigenum‘ flourishes in 
New Grenada at this elevation, the highest, I believe, 
at which they are found. 
The terrestrials usually have thick or tuberous roots, 
while those of the epiphytes are fleshy fibres, coiling 
around the body on which they grow, or hanging in the 
air, like Florida Moss. The flowers are always fantastic 
in shape, often representing the form of birds or in¬ 
sects, a peculiarity to which the poet alludes in these 
lines: 
“ The Orchis race, with varied beauty, charm 
And mock the exploring fly, or bee’s aerial form.” 
One of our best-known native Orchid tribes is that of 
Habenaria, which extends from Kentucky northward, 
showing nearly twenty varieties of various colors, 
white, yellow-, greenish, pink and purple. A common 
and strikingly handsome form is Habenaria fimbriata 
(or Platanthera fimbriata) the Great Fringed Orchids, 
common in wet meadows from New England to Mich¬ 
igan. It flowers in June, throwing up a spike of beau¬ 
tiful pinkish-purple flowers. The petals and sepals are 
deeply fringed, and greatly resemble the wings of an 
insect in form, while the diverging anther-cells strik¬ 
ingly suggest the two eyes of a moth or butterfly. A 
European variety, much like this, is frequently alluded 
to in literature, as in “Hamlet” the Queen describes 
Ophelia’s death, saying: 
“ There is a willow growing o’er a brook 
That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream, 
Near which fantastic garlands she did make 
Of Crow-flowers, Nettles, Daisies, and Long Purples.” 
“ Long Purples” and “ Dead-men’s Fingers ” are com¬ 
mon names applied in England to several of the Orchis 
tribe, the latter uncouth name being suggested by the 
fleshy roots. The Great Fringed Orchis can be trans¬ 
planted successfully, though it is a little shy in culture. 
It does best in damp, peaty soil, near a pond or water¬ 
course, and, as may be known by its northern habitat,, 
is very hardy. An eminent authority says it is only 
found in New Jersey in hilly places, but I have never 
seen it in such localities myself, only in low, cold 
swamps. Two other lovely varieties are the white- 
fringed Orchis (H. blephariglottis) and yellow-fringed 
Orchis (H. ciliaris). Both are similar in general habit 
and growth to the purple variety, but are later flower¬ 
ing ; the yellow is rare north of New Jersey. 
Orchis spectabilis—Showy Orchis—placed by some 
botanists in the genus Habenaria, is one of the few 
native Orchids which prefer dark and shaded woods 
rather than open ground. It throws up two shiny 
leaves, above which rises the flower-stalk. The flower 
has abroad, white lower lip, while above the pink petals 
and sepals unite to form a hood over the antlers, whence 
its local name, “ Preacher in the Pulpit.” It flowers in 
May, and is found from Kentucky northwards, but in 
no place is it really plentiful. It will succeed in culti¬ 
vation if placed under the same circumstances as in its 
own home ; but as a general thing our native terres¬ 
trial Orchids seem somewhat impatient of culture. 
Several species of Orchis afford the starchy food known 
in Europe as salep—from the Arabic sahhleb —which is 
analogous to Arrow-root. They are all highly interest¬ 
ing to the botanical student from their peculiarities of 
habit and growth, which offer a wide field for conjec¬ 
ture and research. 
A somewhat different tribe from those before men¬ 
tioned is the Arethusa, of which a beautiful example 
is Arethusa bulbosa. According to classic lore, Arethusa 
was one of Diana’s nymphs, daughter of Nereus and 
Doris, who was changed into a fountain by the gods. 
Why our Orchid was dedicated to her does not appear, 
unless, as some authorities aver, by reason of its droop¬ 
ing leaves, which may be likened to a fountain. Be 
that as it may, it is a most beautiful plant, although as 
shy and intractable as the nymph whose name it 
bears. The root is a tuber or solid bulb—whence the 
specific name bulbosa—while the stem ascends from 
one side. In small plants the stem appears perfectly 
leafless, and is only wrapped in a few alternate sheaths. 
In large plants the upper sheath expands into a short 
lanceolate leaf. The stem is erect and smooth, usually 
bearing a single flower, very rarely two. The color is 
a delicate rosy-purple, the petals and sepals being bent 
somewhat to one side, in the form of a hood ; the lip is 
broad, bent downward, and fringed or bearded. 
The flower is very fragrant. It grows in 
sphagnous swamps from Canada to Florida, 
flowering in May or June, but is scarce and local. It is 
considered difficult in cultivation, but its near allies do 
well, and I see no reason why the Arethusa should not, 
if placed under favorable circumstances. 
Pogonia ophioglossoides —“Snake-Mouth”—was for¬ 
merly regarded as an Arethusa, but certain structural 
differences caused the establishment of another genus. 
In distinguishing Orchids, relative differences in the 
sizes and forms of the petals and sepals are taken into 
