The Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States - Part 163
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Part 163

-- 2. _Sepals linear, dingy or brownish, longer and much narrower than the erect or connivent petals; lip 3-lobed at the apex, crested down the middle, beardless; flowers solitary (or rarely a pair), terminal; root a cl.u.s.ter of fibres._

3. P. divaricata, R. Br. Stem (1--2 high) bearing _a lanceolate leaf in the middle, and a leafy bract_ next the flower, which is recurved on the ovary; but the sepals ascending or diverging, spatulate-linear, longer than the lanceolate-spatulate pointed and flesh-colored petals, these about 1--1' long.--Wet pine-barrens, N. J. to Fla. June, July.

4. P. verticillata, Nutt. Stem (6--12' high) naked, except some small scales at the base and a _whorl of mostly 5 obovate or obovate-oblong sessile leaves_ at the summit; flower dusky purplish, on a _peduncle longer than the ovary and capsule; sepals more than twice the length of the petals_, narrowly linear, spreading from a mostly erect base (1--2'

long); lip with a narrow crest down the middle.--Low woods, N. Eng. to Fla., west to Ind. and Wisc.; rather rare, especially eastward. May, June. Glaucous when young. Fruit-stalk erect, about 1' long, more than half the length of the leaves.

5. P. affnis, Austin. Somewhat smaller than the preceding; leaves paler and rather narrower; flowers (not rarely in pairs) yellowish or greenish; _peduncle much shorter than the ovary and capsule; sepals but little longer than the petals_, tapering to the base; lip crested over the whole face and on the middle of the lobes.--Low woods, S. W. Conn., S. New York, and N. New Jersey; rare.

15. oRCHIS, L.

Flower ringent; the sepals and petals nearly equal. Lip turned downward, coalescing with the base of the column, spurred below. Anther-cells contiguous and parallel. Pollen cohering in numerous coa.r.s.e waxy grains, which are collected on a cobweb-like elastic tissue into 2 large ma.s.ses (one filling each anther-cell) borne on a slender stalk, the base of which is attached to a gland or sticky disk of the stigma, the two glands contained in a common little pouch or hooded fold, placed just above the orifice of the spur. Flowers showy, in a spike.--Our species with low scape-like stems, with 1 or 2 leaves at base, from fleshy-fibrous roots. (?????, the ancient name.)

1. O. spectabilis, L. (SHOWY ORCHIS.) Root of thick fleshy fibres, _producing 2 oblong-obovate shining leaves_ (3--6' long), and a few-flowered 4 angled scape (4--7' high); bracts leaf-like, lanceolate; sepals and petals all lightly united to form the vaulted galea or upper lip, pink-purple, the ovate undivided lip white.--Rich woods, N. Brunswick to Ga., west to Minn. and Mo. May.

2. O. rotundiflia, Pursh. Stem naked above, 1_-leaved at base_ (5--9'

high), from a slender creeping rootstock; leaf varying from almost orbicular to oblong (1--3' long); flowers rose-purple, the lip white and spotted with purple, 3-lobed, and the larger middle lobe dilated and 2-lobed or strongly notched at the summit (4--6" long), exceeding the ovate-oblong petals and sepals, and the slender depending spur.

(Habenaria rotundifolia, _Richardson_.)--Damp woods and bogs, N. Maine to Vt., N. Y., Minn., and northward.

16. HABENaRIA, Willd. REIN-ORCHIS.

Glands or viscid disks (to which the pollen-ma.s.ses are attached) naked and exposed, separate, sometimes widely so (becoming attached, some to the proboscis, others to the face or head of insects feeding upon the nectar of the spur, the pollen thus carried from one blossom to another); otherwise nearly as in true Orchis; the lateral sepals, however, mostly spreading. (Name from _habena_, a thong or rein, in allusion to the shape of the lip or spur of some species.)

-- 1. GYMNADeNIA. _Cells of the anther parallel and approximate, their glands therefore contiguous. (Appendages of the stigma in our species two or three and much developed, oblong or club-shaped.)_

1. H. tridentata, Hook. Stem slender (6--12' high), with a single oblong or oblanceolate obtuse leaf below, and 2 or 3 small ones like bracts above; spike 6--12-flowered, oblong; _flowers greenish or whitish, very small; lip wedge-oblong, truncate, and with 3 short teeth at the apex_; the slender and slightly club-shaped spur curved upward, longer than the ovary.--Wet woods, N. Eng. to Minn. and Ind., and south in the mountains to N. C. June, July.--Root of few fleshy fibres. Appendages of the stigma three, oblong-club-shaped, one outside each orbicular gland and one between them, rising as high as the anther-cell, their cellular viscid summits receiving pollen in the unopened flower, and penetrated by pollen-tubes!

2. H. integra, Spreng. Root of very fleshy fibres (or some of them tuber-like); stem several-leaved (15' high), the 1 or 2 lower leaves elongated, oblong-lanceolate, acute, the others becoming smaller and bract-like; spike densely many-flowered, oblong-cylindrical; _flowers orange-yellow_, small, _lip ovate, entire_ or slightly crenulate or wavy, shorter than the awl-shaped descending spur.--Wet pine-barrens, N. J. to Fla. July.--Appendages of the stigma two, lateral, oblong, fleshy; beak or middle appendage narrow.

3. H. nivea, Spreng. Stem slender, 1--1 high, many-leaved, the 1 or 2 lower leaves lance-linear and 4--8' long, the others small and bract-like; spike cylindrical, loosely many-flowered; _flowers white, small_; petals and _entire lip linear-oblong_; spur thread-shaped, ascending, as long as the white ovary, which is not twisted.--Pine-barren swamps, S. Del. to Fla. Aug.

-- 2. PERULaRIA. _Cells of the anther nearly parallel, the valves of each extended at base so as to form the sides of a deep oblong groove or cavity, which is lined by the dilated orbicular and incurved gland.

(Flowers small, greenish, slender-spurred.)_

4. H. virescens, Spreng. Leaves ovate-oblong or oblong-lanceolate, the uppermost linear-lanceolate and pointed, pa.s.sing into the bracts of the elongated raceme; petals ovate; flowers dull green; lip furnished with a tooth on each side and a strong nasal protuberance in the middle of the base, oblong, truncate-obtuse, about the length of the sepals, half the length of the slender club-shaped spur.--Wet places, common; N. Eng. to Fla., west to Minn. and Mo. June, July.--Stem 10--20' high; the spike at first dense, with the bracts longer than the flowers, at length elongated and often loose, the upper bracts shorter than the flowers, which are quite small, and with scarcely a tinge of yellow, drying brownish.

-- 3. PLATANTHeRA. _Cells of the anther sometimes parallel, more commonly divergent, so that their tapering bases and the exposed glands are more or less distant. (Root a cl.u.s.ter of fleshy fibres, or tuberous-thickened.)_

[*] _Flowers greenish or white, small, numerous in a close spike; spur not longer than the entire or merely notched narrow lip; anther-cells almost parallel, wholly adnate; stem leafy._

[+] _Spur short and sac-like; the 3 sepals and 2 narrow petals erect; glands small, rather widely separated._

5. H. bracteata, R. Br. Stem 6--12' high; lower leaves obovate, the upper oblong and gradually reduced to lanceolate acute bracts 2--4 times the length of the green flowers; spike 10--30-flowered; lip oblong-linear or slightly spatulate, truncate and 2--3-toothed or lobed at the tip, more than twice the length of the white spur. (H. viridis, var. bracteata, _Reichenb._)--Damp woods and meadows, N. Eng. to Minn., Iowa, Ind., south in the mountains to N. C., and far northward.

[+][+] _Spur slender, incurved, about equalling the entire lip; lateral sepals spreading._

6. H. hyperbrea, R. Br. Stem very leafy (6'--2 high); _leaves lanceolate_, erect; spike dense (2--15' long); lower bracts lanceolate, longer than the _(greenish) flowers; lip and petals lanceolate, somewhat equal_, the latter spreading from the base; anther somewhat overhanging the transversely dilated stigma; _glands...o...b..cular_; stalk of the pollen-ma.s.ses very slender and weak.--Peat bogs and wet cold woods, N.

Eng. to N. Y., S. Ill., Iowa, and northward. June, July. (Eu.)

7. H. dilatata, Gray. Resembles n. 6, but usually more slender, with narrower commonly _linear leaves; flowers white; lip lanceolate from a rhomboidal-dilated base_, entire, its base with the bases of the petals and sepals erect-connivent, above spreading; anther-cells almost parallel; _glands approximate, large and strap-shaped, vertical_, nearly as long as the pollen-ma.s.s and its short flat stalk together; stigma narrow; a trowel-shaped conspicuous beak between the bases of the anther-cells.--Cold bogs, Conn. to N. Y., Mich., Minn., and northward.

[*][*] _Flowers greenish or white, 5--15 in a loose spike, rather large for the size of the plant; scape or stem naked above, 1-leaved at base (5--9' high); spur not longer than the lip; anther-cells wholly adnate, arcuate and widely separated._

8. H. obtusata, Richardson. Leaf obovate or spatulate-oblong; upper sepal very broad and rounded, the others and the petals lance-oblong; lip entire, linear or lanceolate, deflexed (3" long), about the length of the tapering and curving spur.--Cold peat bogs, Maine and N. New Eng.

(Mt. Wachusett, Ma.s.s.), to Minn. and northward. (Eu.)

[*][*][*] _Flowers white or greenish, numerous in a loose spike, on a naked scape, 2-leaved at base; spur longer than the narrow entire lip; anther-cells widely diverging, their narrowed beak-like bases projecting forward; stalk of the pollen-ma.s.s laterally affixed to the back of the orbicular gland, the viscous face of which looks obliquely inward._

9. H. Hookeri, Torr. Leaves...o...b..cular, spreading (3--4' broad); scape mostly naked (--1 high), bearing 10--20 upright sessile _yellowish-green flowers in a strict spike_; sepals ovate-lanceolate; lip lanceolate, pointed, incurved, longer than the _lance-awl-shaped petals; spur slender, acute, about the length of the ovary_ (nearly 1'

long).--Damp woods and borders of swamps, N. Scotia to N. J., west to Minn. and Iowa.--Var. OBLONGIFLIA, Paine, has oblong leaves (3--5' by 1--2'). N. Y. and Can.

10. H. orbiculata, Torr. Leaves very large (4--8' wide), orbicular, spreading flat on the ground, shining above, silvery beneath; scape bracted (1--2 high), bearing many spreading _greenish-white flowers in a loose raceme_; upper sepal orbicular, the lateral ovate; _lip narrowly linear and slightly spatulate, obtuse_, drooping, nearly thrice the length of the oblong-lanceolate and falcate obtuse petals; _spur curved_, slender (about 1' long), gradually _thickened_ toward the blunt apex, _twice the length of the ovary_; anther-cells strongly projecting at the free beak-like base (the glands nearly '

apart).--Rich woods (especially coniferous), Newf. to Penn. and in the mountains to N. C., west to Mich. and Minn.

[*][*][*][*] (FRINGED ORCHIS.) _Flowers several or many in an open spike, with mostly foliaceous bracts; stem (rather tall) leafy; spur thread-shaped or scarcely club-shaped, longer than the fringed, cleft, or dissected lip; anther-cells widely separated and usually diverging, their narrow beak-like bases, supported by the arms of the stigma, strongly projecting forward or partly upward._

[+] _Lip pectinately fringed but undivided; flowers golden yellow or white; anther-cells widely divergent, the orbicular glands as if raised on a tentacle projecting far forward or slightly inward; ovary long, tapering to the summit._

11. H. cristata, R. Br. Lower leaves lanceolate, elongated; the upper gradually reduced to sharp-pointed _bracts, nearly the length of the crowded (yellow) flowers_; spike oblong or cylindrical; petals rounded, crenate; _lip ovate, with a lacerate-fringed margin, scarcely shorter than the_ slender obtuse incurved _spur_, which is not half the length of the ovary.--Bogs, N. J. to Fla. July. Flowers very much smaller than in the next.

12. H. ciliaris, R. Br. (YELLOW FRINGED-ORCHIS.) Stem 1--2 high; leaves oblong or lanceolate; the upper pa.s.sing into pointed _bracts_, which are _shorter than the ovaries_; spike oblong, rather closely many-flowered; _flowers bright orange-yellow_; lateral sepal rounded, reflexed; petals linear, cut-fringed at the apex; _lip oblong_ (6"

long), _about half the length of the spur furnished with a very long and copious capillary fringe_.--Wet sandy places, N. Eng. to Fla. and Tex., west to Mich. and Ind. Our most handsome species.

13. H. blephariglottis, Torr. (WHITE FRINGED-ORCHIS.) Stem 1 high; leaves, etc., as in the last; _flowers white_, rather smaller; petals spatulate, usually slightly cut or toothed at the apex; lip ovate- or lanceolate-oblong, with the irregular capillary fringe of the margins usually shorter than its disk, one third the length of the spur.--Peat bogs and borders of ponds, Newf. to N. J., west to Mich. and Minn.

July.--Var. HOLOPeTALA, Torr., has narrower petals with the toothing obsolete, and the lip less fringed.

[+][+] (GREENISH FRINGED-ORCHIS.) _Lip 3-parted above the stalk-like base, the divisions cut into capillary fringes; flowers greenish- or yellowish-white; anther-cells not very divergent, the beaked bases projecting forward; the large glands oval or lanceolate, nearly facing each other; ovary short-tapering above; spurs long, clavate._

14. H. leucophae'a, Gray. Stem 2--4 high; leaves oblong-lanceolate; the bracts similar, rather shorter than the (large, fragrant) flowers; spike commonly elongated, loose; _petals obovate, minutely cut-toothed; divisions of the lip_ (7--10" long) _broadly wedge-shaped or fan-shaped, many-cleft to the middle into a copious thread-like fringe_; spur longer than the ovary (1--1' long); glands transversely oval.--Moist meadows, western N. Y. to Ky., Mo., and Minn. July.

15. H. lacera, R. Br. (RAGGED FRINGED-ORCHIS.) Leaves oblong or lanceolate; raceme loosely many-flowered; _petals oblong-linear, entire; divisions of the lip narrow, deeply parted into a few long nearly capillary lobes_; spur about the length of the ovary; _glands oblong-linear_, as long as the stalk of the pollen-ma.s.s.--Bogs and moist thickets, N. Scotia to N. C. and Ga., west to Minn. and Mo.; common.

July.

[+][+][+] (PURPLE FRINGED-ORCHIS.) _Lip fan-shaped, 3-parted above the stalk-like base, the divisions erosely fringed; flowers purple; anther-cells widely separated, little divergent, the orbicular glands oblique; ovary contracted only at the summit; the long curving spur somewhat clavate._

16. H. psycdes, Gray. Leaves oblong or lanceolate, the uppermost pa.s.sing into linear-lanceolate bracts; _raceme cylindrical, densely many-flowered; lower sepals round-oval, obtuse; petals wedge-obovate or spatulate, denticulate above_; divisions of the spreading lip broadly wedge-shaped, many-cleft into a _short fringe_.--Wet meadows and bogs, common; Newf. to N. C., west to Ind. and Minn. July, Aug.--Flowers short-pedicelled, crowded in a spike of 4--10' in length, small, but very handsome, fragrant; lip short-stalked, barely ' broad and not so long; the middle lobe broadest and more closely fringed, but not so deeply cleft as the lateral ones.

17. H. fimbriata, R. Br. Lower leaves oval or oblong, the upper few, pa.s.sing into lanceolate bracts; _spike or raceme oblong, loosely-flowered; lower sepals ovate, acute; petals oblong, toothed down the sides_; divisions of the pendent large lip (--1' broad) fan-shaped, more fringed.--Wet meadows, N. Scotia to N. J. and N. C., west to Mich.

June.--Flowers fewer (lilac-purple), 3 or 4 times larger than those of the preceding.

18. H. peram'na, Gray. Lower leaves oblong-ovate, the upper lanceolate; spike oblong or cylindrical, densely flowered; lower sepals round-ovate; petals rounded-obovate, raised on a claw; _divisions of the large lip very broadly wedge-shaped, irregularly eroded-toothed_ at the broadly dilated summit, _the lateral ones truncate, the middle one 2-lobed_.--Moist meadows and banks, Penn. and N. J. to Ill., and south in the mountains. Aug.--Flowers large and showy (violet-purple); the lip paler and 8--10" long, variably toothed, but not fringed.

17. CYPRIPeDIUM, L. LADY'S SLIPPER. MOCCASON-FLOWER.

Sepals spreading; all three distinct, or in most cases two of them united into one under the lip. Petals spreading, resembling the sepals but usually narrower. Lip a large inflated sac. Column declined; on each side a fertile stamen, with its short filament bearing a 2-celled anther; the pollen loose and pulpy or powdery-granular; on the upper side a dilated-triangular, petal-like but thickish body, which answers to the fertile stamen of other Orchids, and covers the summit of the style; stigma terminal, broad, obscurely 3-lobed, moist and roughish (not smooth and viscid as in the rest of the order). Pollen in most of our species, especially in n. 6, exposed by the conversion of the face of the anther into a viscid, varnish-like film, which adheres to whatever touches it, carrying away some of the pollen.--Root of many tufted fibres. Leaves large, many-nerved and plaited, sheathing at the base. Flowers solitary or few, large and showy. (Name composed of ??p???, _Venus_, and p?d???, _a sock_ or _buskin_, i.e. _Venus's Slipper_.)