Bog-Trotting for Orchids

Appendix — New England Orchids

Nature, in fact that parent of all things, has produced no animated being for the purpose solely of eating; she has willed that it should be born to satisfy the wants of others, and in its very vitals has implanted medicaments conducive to health.... Cato has recommended that flowers for making chaplets should be cultivated in the gardens: varieties remarkable for delicacy, which it is quite impossible to express, inasmuch as no individual can find such faculties for describing them as Nature does, for bestowing on them their numerous tints. Nature, who here in especial shows herself in a sportive mood, takes a delight in the prolific display of her varied productions. The other plants she has produced for our uses and our nutriment, and to them accordingly she has granted years, and even ages, of duration; but as for the flowers and their perfumes, she has given them birth for but a day—a mighty lesson to man, we see, to teach him that that which in its career is most beauteous and most attractive to the eye is the very first to fade and die.

Even the limner’s art possesses no resources for reproducing colors of the flowers in all their varied tints and combinations, whether we view them in groups alternately blending their hues or whether arranged in festoons, each variety by itself.—Pliny, Natural History (23-79 A.D.).

Orchidaceæ — Orchid Family

[In compiling the appendix of New England Orchids, the author has followed the order of classification and nomenclature adopted by Messrs. Britton and Brown in the Illustrated Flora of Northeastern North America, 1896, without doubt the highest and most systematic arrangement according to the progress of evolution and the advancement of the science of botany in North America.]

Orchidaceæ, Lindley, Natural System, 2d ed., p. 336. 1836.

Perennial plants arising from bulbs, corms, fibrous, or tuberous roots. Stems or scapes 2 inches to 3-4 feet high. Leaves parallel-veined, sheathing, and plicate, sometimes reduced to scales. Flowers perfect or irregular, solitary or in a spiked raceme, usually subtended by a leafy bract. Perianth consists of 6 segments. The calyx, or outer whorl, consisting of 3 parts (sepals); the corolla, or inner whorl, consisting of 3 parts (petals). The third petal is designated labellum (lip), or nectary, and is in orchids the most beautiful part, assuming grotesque shapes ornamented with spurs and fringes. The stamens and pistils are variously united with the style, forming an unsymmetrical column. Anther, 1, or in Cypripedium 2; 2-celled. Pollen in 2-8 pear-shaped, usually stalked masses (pollinia), united by elastic threads, the masses waxy or powdery, attached at the base to a viscid disk (gland). Stigma, a viscid surface, facing the labellum beneath the rostellum, or in a cavity between the anther-sacs (clinandrium). Seed-capsule (ovary) inferior, long and twisted, 3-angled, 1-celled. Ovules minute, spindle-shaped, and numerous; embryo fleshy. The colors of orchids are various and beautiful; their fragrance heavy and exquisite in several species. Orchids were known and designated by Linnæus in 1753 as Gynandrous, meaning “stamens and pistils united to the column.” There are about 410 genera and from 6,000 to 10,000 species, widely distributed throughout the damp and wooded regions of the world. More abundant in the humid atmosphere of the tropics, where many species are air-plants or epiphytes. The orchids of the temperate and sub-arctic regions are terrestrial, drawing their nourishment from the earth.

North American Orchids, North of Mexico	150-160
New England Orchids	48-56
Hoosac Valley Orchids	40-42

Genera of Orchid Family in New England

Genera XV. Species 56.

I.	Cypripedium Linnæus, 1753—6 species.
II.	Orchis Linnæus, 1753—2 species.
III.	Habenaria Willdenow, 1805—18 species.
IV.	Pogonia Jussieu, 1789—4 species.
V.	Arethusa Linnæus, 1753—1 species.
VI.	Gyrostachys Persoon, 1807—6 species.
	(Spiranthes Richard, 1818.64)
VII.	Listera R. Brown, 1813—3 species.
VIII.	Peramium Salisbury, 1812—4 species.
	(Goodyera R. Brown, 1813.64)
IX.	Achroanthes Rafinesque, 1808—2 species.
	(Microstylis Nuttall, 1818.64)
X.	Leptorchis Thouars, 1808—2 species.
	(Liparis Richard, 1818.64)
XI.	Calypso Salisbury, 1807—1 species.65
XII.	Corallorhiza R. Brown, 1813—4 species.
XIII.	Tipularia Nuttall, 1818—1 species.65
XIV.	Limodorum Linnæus, 1753—1 species.
	(Calopogon R. Brown, 1813.64)
XV.	Aplectrum Nuttall, 1818—1 species.65

I — Cypripedium

Linnæus, 1753

Lady’s Slipper—Moccasin-Flower

English—Lady’s Slipper.

Latin—Calceolus D. Mariæ, or Marianus.

German—Frauenschuh, or Marienschuh.

French—Sabot de la Vierge, or Soulier de Notre Dame.

Italian—Pontoffala, or scarpa della Madonna.

Algonquin Indian—Mawcahsun, or Makkasin-Flower.

North American—Indian Moccasin-Flower.

The generic name, Cypripedium, comes from the Greek, referring to Κύπρις, a former name of Venus, the Divine Mother of the Romans before Christ, and πόδιον, signifying sock, or slipper.

Glandular pubescent plants. Anthers, 2. Labellum shoe-shaped, or conical. Sepals and petals similar in texture; lower sepals wholly or imperfectly united in all species save C. arietinum R. Brown. Stem, 6 inches to 3 feet high. Flowers, 1-4 in the Atlantic region and 1-12 in the Pacific region; pendulous, alternating in a bracted raceme. Pollen granulose, without caudicle or glands. Fragrance heavy, aromatic, or oily save in two exquisitely sweet species, C. parviflorum Salisbury, of the Atlantic region, and C. Montanum Douglas, of the Pacific slope. Leaves, 2-several, plicate, light green, somewhat resembling Hellebore foliage, with which plants the Cypripediums were early confused by the ancient herbalists. Roots fleshy, fibrous, with spicy, oily, or musk-like odor, used as a nervine. Seed-capsule long, three-angled; ovules numerous, minute, resembling saw-dust. Seedlings frequent in many stations. About 50 species for the world.

Continental Range—Throughout the conifer wooded and bogland regions from Alaska southward to Mexico. May-July.

North American species	13
New England species	6
Hoosac Valley species	5

New England species:

1. C. arietinum R. Brown, 1813.

2. C. reginæ Walter, 1788.

(C. spectabile Salisbury, 1791.)

3. C. candidum Willdenow, 1805.

4. C. hirsutum Miller, 1768.

(C. pubescens Willdenow, 1805.)

5. C. parviflorum Salisbury, 1791.

6. C. acaule Aiton, 1789.

1 — Cypripedium Arietinum R. Brown, 1813

Ram’s-Head Lady’s Slipper—Ram’s-Head Moccasin-Flower

The specific name, arietinum, refers to the conical labellum resembling a ram’s head.

Small conifer bogland or damp woodland orchid, with fibrous roots. Rare. May 9th-August 1st.

Flowers, one, terminal, mottled dull purple and white. Labellum conical, ½-⅔ inch, prolonged at the apex into a reflexed spur. Sepals all free. Petals narrow, similar in color, and assuming the place of horns to the ram’s-head-shaped flower. Stem leafy, 6-12 inches high. Leaves, 3-4, dark apple-green; 2-4 inches wide, smooth, without hairs. Seed-capsule prominently ridged.

Continental Range—From Quebec, Ontario southward to North Haven, Connecticut, and Mt. Toby, Massachusetts; westward to Minnesota, the Great Lake region being the centre of distribution. Limited between the 40th-50th parallels.

New England Range—Maine, rather abundant; New Hampshire, rare; Vermont, abundant; Massachusetts, rare; Connecticut, very rare.

2 — Cypripedium Reginæ Walter, 1788 (Cypripedium Spectabile Salisbury, 1791)

White-Petaled, or Showy Lady’s Slipper—Queen of the Moccasin-Flowers

The specific name, reginæ, refers to the queenly appearance of the white-petaled flowers.

Large bogland orchid, with fleshy-fibrous roots. Frequent. June 15th-July 4th.

Flowers, 1-4 terminal, large, showy, white, tinged with deep pink or wine; the most beautiful species among our native Cypripediums. Labellum shoe-shaped, inflated, drooping margins of the orifice inflected, crest deeply tinged with pink-purple; interior downy, ornamented with lines of deeper purple. Rarely pure white flowers occur. Sepals and petals similar, pure white; 2 lower sepals wholly united; side petals narrower than sepals. Stem, 1-3 feet high. Leaves, 5-7, alternating to top of stem; 3-7 inches long, clasping, 1-4 inches wide; 10-13 plaits; strongly pubescent, produces poisonous effect to susceptible people similar to that caused by Rhus.

Continental Range—From Nova Scotia southward to the higher mountains of North Carolina, and Huntsville, Alabama; westward to Minnesota, Walhalla Mountains, North Dakota, and the Barrens of Kentucky.

New England Range—Maine, frequent; New Hampshire, frequent; Vermont, common; Massachusetts, common; Rhode Island, no stations reported; Connecticut, frequent.

3 — Cypripedium Candidum Willdenow, 180566

Small White Lady’s Slipper—The Prairie Moccasin-Flower

The specific name, candidum, refers to the white labellum of this species.

Small, damp swamp-land orchid, with fleshy-fibrous roots. Rare. May 11th-June 29th.

Flowers small, solitary, and terminal. Labellum shoe-shaped, white, striped with purple interiorly; about 1 inch long; orifice small, with edges inflected. Sepals and petals lanceolate, greenish-brown and purple; lower sepals imperfectly united. Stem leafy, 6-12 inches high, pubescent. Leaves, 3-4, sheathing, erect, crowded, acute, 3-5 inches long, ⅔-1½ inches wide, several scales below, 7-9 nerved.

Continental Range—From Connecticut, Pennsylvania westward to Indiana, North Dakota, Columbia Plains, on the Canadian shore of St. Clair River, to the Barrens of northern Kentucky, and Fort Hill, California, which station appears doubtful; more central distribution being from central New York to North Dakota.

New England Range—Recently reported for Connecticut by Mr. A. W. Driggs, of East Hartford.

4 — Cypripedium Hirsutum Miller, 1768 (Cypripedium Pubescens Willdenow, 1805)

Large Yellow Lady’s Slipper—Downy Yellow Moccasin-Flower

The specific name, hirsutum, refers to the whole plant being hirsute, or clothed with hairs.

Large bogland or damp mountainside orchid, with fleshy-fibrous roots. May 19th-June 15th.

Flowers dull chrome yellow, 1-3, terminal, shoe-shaped, 1-2½ inches long. Labellum shoe-shaped, inflated, convex above, chrome yellow, edges of orifice inflected, lined with downy hairs and dotted lines of carmine. Sepals and petals graceful, petals very much twisted; lower sepals imperfectly united; siskin-green and brown-purple. Stem leafy to top, 1-2½ high, pubescent. Leaves, usually 5, broadly ovate, 3-5 inches long, 1½-3 inches wide; 7-9 nerved; plicate and hirsute, said to cause poisonous irritation similar to Rhus. Roots used as a nervine.67

Continental Range—From the wooded country of the sub-arctic lands in latitude 54°-64° North, southward throughout Canada, New England, to Alabama; westward to North Dakota, Colorado, slightly beyond the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountain region.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, common; Vermont, frequent; Massachusetts, abundant; Rhode Island, rare; Connecticut, rare.

5 — Cypripedium Parviflorum Salisbury, 1791

Small Yellow Lady’s Slipper—Fragrant Yellow Moccasin-Flower

The specific name, parviflorum, refers to the small flower of this species.

Small bogland or damp hillside orchid, with fleshy-fibrous roots. May 19th-July 4th.

Flowers small, yellow, solitary, and terminal. Often intergrades with larger yellow species—(C. hirsutum); fragrant, the only Cypripedium in the Atlantic region especially so. Labellum small, ½-1½ inch long, shoe-shaped, drooping lemon-yellow, lined with downy hairs and dotted lines of carmine. Sepals and petals brownish-purple, similar in texture; sepals 2 inches long, graceful, twisted, lower ones imperfectly united; petals glossy and twisting exceedingly. Stem leafy, slender, pubescent, 1-2 feet high. Leaves lanceolate, 3-5 inches long and 1-2¼ inches wide, pubescent, 7-9 nerved; not so villose as C. hirsutum Miller. Said to produce poisonous effect similar to Rhus.

Continental Range—In company with other species of New England Cypripedium; from Newfoundland, British Columbia, southward to Georgia; westward to the sub-humid regions of Kansas, extending slightly over the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain region. Ascends 4000 feet altitude in Virginia.

New England Range—Maine, frequent; New Hampshire, infrequent; Vermont, frequent; Massachusetts, frequent; Rhode Island, not reported; Connecticut, rather rare.

6 — Cypripedium Acaule Aiton, 1789

Two-Leaved Lady’s Slipper—Stemless Pink Moccasin-Flower

The specific name, acaule, refers to the lowly and humble (acaulescent), growth of the species, since the flower is stemless, arising from a short or subterranean stem.

Sphagnous bogland, conifer or mixed woodland orchid with fleshy-fibrous roots. May 19th-June 20th.

Flowers large, pink-purple, solitary, terminal, stemless. Labellum shoe-shaped, 2-2½ inches long, bi-lobed, pendulous, with closed fissure down its whole length, edges inflected, downy interiorly; pink-purple with darker veining of purple. (Rarely pure white flowers occur, with chrome yellow sepals and petals.) Sepals and petals brown-purple and green, shorter than labellum; two lower sepals wholly united. Stem very short, obscured by the basal leaves. Scape naked, 8-18 inches high, single-flowered, terminal. Few instances where two flowers or buds in embryo have occurred. Leaves 2, sheathing the base of peduncle, oblanceolate 3-5 nerved, hirsute and thickened; 6-8 inches long, 2-3 inches wide, resembling the leaves of Orchis spectabilis Linnæus.

Continental Range—From Newfoundland, and Fort Franklin, in latitude 54°-64° North; southward to Lookout Mountain, Mentone, and Cullman, Alabama; westward to northern Indiana, Minnesota, and Kentucky.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, common; Vermont, abundant; Massachusetts, abundant; Rhode Island, common; Connecticut, common.

II — Orchis

Linnæus, 1753

Showy Orchis

The generic name, Orchis, refers to ὄρχις, the son of a rural deity of classical mythology, in whose memory these flowers were designated.

Plants with biennial roots. Anther 1. Labellum connate with base of the column; produced below into a spur. Sepals separate, free to the base, similar in texture to the petals. Flowers small, delicate white and rose-purple, fragrant; in a short terminal spike. Anther-sacs divergent; pollinia granulose, 1 in each anther-sac, which is attached at the base to a viscid disk or gland. Glands enclosed in a pouch. Stem, scape-like, 5-angled, 4-12 inches high. Leaves 2, oblong-obovate, shining, basal, with several bracts above. Roots fleshy-fibrous or tuberous.

Continental Range—There are three reported species of this genus for the Continent. Orchis, as a genus, contains 80 or more species ranging throughout the temperate regions of Europe, Asia, Northern Africa, Canaries, and North America.

North American species	3
New England species	2
Hoosac Valley species	1

New England species:

1. O. spectabilis Linnæus, 1753.

2. O. rotundifolia (Pursh) Lindley, 1814-1835.

1 — Orchis Spectabilis Linnæus, 1753

Showy Orchis

The specific name, spectabilis, refers to the beautiful spectacle of a group of these plants in bloom.

Small, damp woodland orchid with fleshy-fibrous roots. April 19th-June 19th.

Flowers fragrant, about 1 inch long, violet-purple mixed with rose-purple and white; 3-6 flowered in a bracted raceme. Labellum divergent, attached to a spur, purple and white. Sepals and petals arching in a galea. Glands enclosed in a pouch or hooded fold. Stem, scape-like, 4-12 inches high, thick, 5-angled. Leaves 2, basal with 1-2 scales below, and foliaceous bracts above sheathing the seed-capsules.

Continental Range—From New Brunswick, Ontario, southward to Georgia and Alabama; westward to the Rocky Mountains. Ascends 4000 feet altitude in Virginia.

New England Range—Maine, rare; New Hampshire, frequent; Vermont, frequent; Massachusetts, frequent; Rhode Island, rare; Connecticut, common.

2 — Orchis Rotundifolia (Pursh) Lindley, 1814-183568

Small Round-Leaved Orchis

The specific name, rotundifolia, refers to the round leaf of this species.

Small woodland or sphagnous bogland orchid with fleshy-fibrous roots. June 10th-July.

Flowers white, rose-purple, flecked with deeper purple, ½-⅔ inch long, subtended by bracts; raceme 2-6 flowered. Labellum 3-lobed, white, purple-spotted, longer than petals, central lobe largest, two-lobed or notched at the summit; spur slender, shorter than labellum. Sepals and petals oval, rose-color. Glands enclosed. Stem slender, 8-10 inches high. Leaf 1 near the base, orbicular or oval, 1½-3 inches long, and 1-2 inches wide, sheathing scales below.

Continental Range—Rare; from Greenland, southward throughout Canada, in latitude 55°-56° North in British Columbia, Rocky Mountain region to Bristol Swamps, Addison County, Vermont, and Norfolk, Connecticut (?).

New England Range—Maine, rare; New Hampshire, rare; Vermont, rare; Massachusetts, not reported; Rhode Island, not reported; Connecticut, doubtfully reported.

III — Habenaria

Willdenow, 1805

Rein Orchis—Naked Gland Orchis

The generic name, Habenaria, comes from habena, a thong or rein.

Leafy-stemmed plants. Anther 1. Glands naked. Labellum spreading or drooping, with a spur at base. Sepals and petals free, similar in structure and color. Anther-sacs parallel; pollinia without caudicles, powdery or granulose. Flowers mostly in a spiked raceme, various in colors, ornamented with spurs, fringed petals and throats. Fragrance delicate and exquisite in several species. Leaves 1-many, lanceolate, becoming bract-like above. In two species—H. orbiculata (Pursh) Torrey and H. Hookeriana A. Gray—the leaves are orbicular and basal, with or without bracts above. Roots thick, fibrous, tuberous or palmate. Seedlings appear numerous in many stations.

Continental Range—A genus containing about 450-500 species for the world, widely distributed in temperate and tropical regions in Europe, Asia, and America. There are 50-55 species on the continent of North America north of Mexico.

North American species north of Mexico	50-55
New England species	18
Hoosac Valley species	13-16

New England species:

1. H. orbiculata (Pursh) Torrey, 1814-1826.

2. H. Hookeriana A. Gray, 1836.

3. H. oblongifolia (Paine) Niles, 1865-1903.

4. H. obtusata (Pursh) Richardson, 1814-1823.

5. H. hyperborea (Linnæus) R. Brown, 1767-1813.

6. H. media (Rydberg) Niles, 1901-1903.

7. H. dilatata (Pursh) Hooker, 1814-1825.

8. H. fragrans (Rydberg) Niles, 1901-1903.

9. H. bracteata (Willdenow) R. Brown, 1805-1813.

10. H. clavellata (Michaux) Sprengel, 1803-1826.

11. H. flava (Linnæus) A. Gray, 1753-1840.

12. H. ciliaris (Linnæus) R. Brown, 1753-1813.

13. H. blephariglottis (Willdenow) Torrey, 1805-1826.

14. H. holopetala (Lindley) A. Gray, 1835-1867.

15. H. lacera (Michaux) R. Brown, 1803-1810.

16. H. grandiflora (Bigelow) Torrey, 1824-1826.

17. H. psycodes (Linnæus) A. Gray, 1753-1840.

18. H. Andrewseii White n. sp. (per letter, 1903).

1 — Habenaria Orbiculata (Pursh) Torrey, 1814-1826

Large Round-Leaved Orchis—Heal-All—Shin-Plasters

The specific name, orbiculata, refers to the round or orbicular leaves of this plant.

Tall spiked woodland orchid, with thick fibrous roots. June 17th-July 15th-August 5th.

Flowers greenish-white, many in spiked raceme. Labellum oblong-linear, white, spur long. Sepals and petals ⅓ to ½ as long as labellum. Sepals spreading, petals smaller. Stem or scape 1-2½ feet high, bracted, occasionally producing one small stem-leaf. Leaves 2, basal, large, round, flat-lying, 4-7 inches in diameter.

Continental Range—Not uncommon, but scarcely abundant, from Newfoundland, British Columbia, Lake Superior, southward to the western mountains of North Carolina; westward to Montana, Idaho, and Washington.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, common; Vermont, frequent; Massachusetts, occasional; Rhode Island, not reported; Connecticut, rather rare.

2 — Habenaria Hookeriana A. Gray, 1836

Small, Round-Leaved Orchis—Hooker’s Orchis

The specific name, Hookeriana, refers to Sir J. Hooker, who studied this orchid and in whose honor Dr. Gray designated it.

Damp, hilly woodland orchid with fleshy-fibrous roots. June 10th-August 22d.

Flowers many, subtended by small bracts in spiked raceme, yellowish-green; spike 4-8 inches long. Labellum linear-lanceolate, acute ⅓-½ inch long. Sepals and petals greenish, spreading; petals awl-shaped ⅓ inch long. Stem 8-18 inches high, not bracted. Leaves 2, oval, obovate, or orbicular, slightly ascending, 3-6 inches long.

Continental Range—From Nova Scotia, Lake Huron, Lake Superior, southward to New Jersey and Pennsylvania, westward to Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, frequent; Vermont, frequent; Massachusetts, occasional; Rhode Island, rare; Connecticut, rare.

3 — Habenaria Oblongifolia (Paine) Niles, 1865-1903

Small Oblong-Leaved Orchis

The specific name, oblongifolia, refers to the oblong leaves.

Damp, hilly woodland orchid with fleshy-fibrous roots. June-August.

Flowers many in spiked raceme, yellowish-green similar or identical with the spike of flowers of H. Hookeriana. Stem 8-18 inches high, not bracted. Leaves 2, oblong, ascending.

Continental Range—In similar situations with H. Hookeriana and H. orbiculata, from Nova Scotia (Macoun) Campbellton, New Brunswick, (Chalmers), Chelsea Mountains, Quebec (Fletcher’s Flora, Ottawa); southward to New York (Paine and Dudley), New Jersey (Mrs. Britton), and throughout New England States; westward to Iowa.

4 — Habenaria Obtusata (Pursh) Richardson, 1814-182369

Sub-Alpine Greenish Bog-Orchis

The specific name, obtusata, refers to the obtuse or blunt sepals and labellum of this species.

Small sub-alpine bogland orchid, with fibrous roots. June 22d-July 30th-September.

Flowers, greenish-yellow in loose spiked raceme 1-2½ inches long; flowers ¼ inch long. Labellum blunt or obtuse, deflexed, entire. Lateral sepals spreading, oblong and obtuse. Petals shorter, obtusely 2-lobed at base. Stem slender, not bracted, 4-10 inches high, 4-angled. Leaf 1, basal, obovate.

Continental Range—From Alaska, southward throughout Canada to Mt. Wachusett, Massachusetts; westward to Minnesota, Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado.

New England Range—Maine, frequent; New Hampshire, frequent; Vermont, rare; Massachusetts, very rare; Mt. Wachusett (Dr. G. E. Stone); Mt. Washington (Henry Baldwin); Rhode Island, not reported; Connecticut, not reported.

5 — Habenaria Hyperborea (Linnæus) R. Brown, 1767-1813

Tall Green Northern Orchis

The specific name, hyperborea, refers to the species being tall and a boreal or northern orchid.

Cold bogland or damp woodland orchid, with thick fleshy roots. May 30th-July 28th-August 18th.

Flowers small, greenish-yellow, on bracted spike 3-8 inches long; infrequent, said to be constructed for self-fertilization, if insects fail to visit the flowers. Labellum lanceolate, obtuse, and entire. Sepals and petals obtuse, ovate, ⅙-¼ inch long; upper sepal crenulate at apex. Stem tall, stout, leafy, 8 inches to 3 feet high. Leaves many lanceolate, acute. Seed-capsule much twisted.

Continental Range—From Greenland, Yakutat Bay and eastern part of Kadiak Island and vicinity of Sitka, Alaska, to Fort Franklin; southward to Pennsylvania and New Jersey; westward to Minnesota, Montana, Washington, New Mexico, and California. This species is closely allied with the Tall White Fragrant Bog-Orchis (H. dilatata). The latter, however, is not constructed for self-fertilization. Several species of Habenaria appear to intergrade with each other more or less throughout their range.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, frequent; Vermont, abundant; Massachusetts, infrequent; Rhode Island, not reported; Connecticut, rare.

6 — Habenaria Media (Rydberg) Niles, 1901-190370

Intermediate Bog-Orchis

The specific name, media, refers to the intermediate form of this species between H. hyperborea and H. dilatata.

A tall bogland orchid, with fleshy roots. June-August.

Flowers greenish-purplish, spike densely flowered; it has often been confused with H. hyperborea and H. dilatata, which it closely resembles. Type specimen from Quebec. Labellum lanceolate, entire, obtuse, slightly dilated at the base; spur exceeding the labellum, curved and obtuse. Sepals ovate-oblong; petals lanceolate, obtuse. Stem 16 inches to 2½ feet high, rather stout. Leaves lanceolate, acute. Seed-capsule ⅖ inch long.

Continental Range—In bogs from Quebec, southward to New York and New England.

New England Range—There are no authoritative stations reported as yet, although the author collected intermediate forms of H. hyperborea in Dimmick Swamp, Pownal, Vermont, July, 1903, answering to Dr. Rydberg’s descriptions of this form. It is also reported by Marcus White and A. LeRoy Andrews for Pownal Swamps.71

7 — Habenaria Dilatata (Pursh) Hooker, 1814-1825

Tall White Northern Orchis

The specific name, dilatata, refers to the dilated condition of the labellum of this orchid.

A tall slender or stout bogland orchid, with fleshy-fibrous or tuberous roots. June 2d-August 23d.

Flowers white, small, in a densely flowered spike 2-10 inches long. Slightly fragrant. Not constructed for self-fertilization as the closely allied species H. hyperborea. Labellum entire, dilated, or obtusely 3-lobed at base. Spur blunt and incurved. Sepals ovate, obtuse, and small. Stem slender, often stout, inferring that an intermediate form exists, which Dr. Rydberg has designated specifically as fragrans. Leaves lanceolate. Seed-capsule much twisted.

Continental Range—From Ankow River, Ocean Cape, Alaska, and Unalaska in latitude 60° North; southward to Litchfield, Connecticut, Amherst, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania; westward to Minnesota, Wyoming, Colorado, also occurring in the cañons of Clear Water Valley, Idaho.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, frequent; Vermont, frequent; Massachusetts, infrequent; Rhode Island, not reported; Connecticut, rare.

8 — Habenaria Fragrans (Rydberg) Niles, 1901-190372

Fragrant Slender Bog-Orchis

The specific name, fragrans, refers to the exquisite fragrance of this species, which is so closely allied with H. dilatata and of which it appears to be a form.

Slender bogland orchid, with fleshy-fibrous roots. July.

Flowers small, pure white, very fragrant; in a slender spiked raceme. Labellum narrowly linear, dilated at the base, obtuse, shorter than the curved filiform spur; otherwise as the preceding species. Sepals lanceolate, acutish, strongly striate. Stem very slender and leafy above, 8-12 inches high. Leaves linear, several.

Continental Range—Reported from a single station in Vermont. Slender forms of H. dilatata, very fragrant and slightly so, are present in the bogs of Pownal, Vermont, and North Adams, Massachusetts, where the writer has collected them, believing that they were forms brought about by the intergrading of the bogland Habenarias closely associated. Species of Habenaria appear to produce natural hybrids readily.73

New England Range—Vermont.

9 — Habenaria Bracteata (Willdenow) R. Brown, 1805-1813

Long Bracted Orchis

The specific name, bracteata, refers to the long bracts, subtending the seed-capsules of this species.

A slender bracted bogland orchid, with fleshy-fibrous roots. May 8th-July 14th-August 12th.

Flowers small, greenish, in a loosely flowered spike, 3-5 inches long, subtended by long bracts. Labellum long, spatulate 2-3 toothed or lobed, twice as long as sac-like spur. Sepals ovate-lanceolate, spreading, dilated, at base; petals very narrow, threadlike. Stem leafy, slender, or stout, 6 inches to 2 feet high. Leaves lanceolate, oval.

Continental Range—From Sitka and Unalaska to the Great Plains, approaching the Rocky Mountains in latitude 55° North; southward throughout New England to North Carolina; westward to Minnesota, North and South Dakota, and Montana.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, common; Vermont, common; Massachusetts, frequent; Rhode Island, rare; Connecticut, rather rare.

10 — Habenaria Clavellata (Michaux) Sprengel, 1803-1826

Small Yellowish Bog-Orchis—Small Wood-Orchis

The specific name, clavellata, refers to the club-shaped appendages of stigma or clavate spur attached to the flowers of this species.

A small bogland or woodland orchid, with fibrous roots. May 17th (Missouri), June (Alabama); July 15th-August (Maine).

Flowers small greenish-yellow, in a loosely flowered spike ½-2 inches long. Labellum dilated, 3-toothed at apex; spur longer than ovary, clavate. Sepals and petals ovate. Stem 8-18 inches high. Leaf 1, near the base, 1-3 bracts above.

Continental Range—From Lake Huron, Newfoundland, southward to Alabama; westward to Indiana, and Missouri. Ascends 6000 feet altitude in North Carolina.

New England Range—Maine, frequent; New Hampshire, frequent; Vermont, infrequent; Massachusetts, infrequent; Rhode Island, frequent; Connecticut, frequent.

11 — Habenaria Flava (Linnæus) A. Gray, 1753-1840

Tubercled Orchis

The specific name, flava, comes from the Latin flavous, referring to the yellow flowers of this orchid.

A damp meadow or sphagnous woodland orchid, with fleshy-fibrous roots. May (Florida), June 5th-August 25th (New England).

Flowers dull greenish-yellow, small, in a spiked raceme. Labellum entire, crenulated with obtuse tooth on each side, and a central tubercle at middle of base. Sepals and petals roundish, ¼ inch long. Sepals yellowish. Stem stout leafy 1-2 feet high. Leaves elliptic, acute; bracts longer than seed-capsule.

Continental Range—From Crow River, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada, southward to Alabama and the wooded Tidal Swamps, Duval County, Florida; westward to Minnesota and Missouri.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, frequent; Vermont, infrequent; Massachusetts, occasional; Rhode Island, common; Connecticut, common.

12 — Habenaria Ciliaris (Linnæus) R. Brown, 1753-181374

Yellow-Fringed Orchis

The specific name, ciliaris, refers to the fringed labellum, from the Latin ciliate,—beset with cilia or hairs, like eyelashes fringing the eyelids.

A tall, wet, sandy meadow or pine barren orchid, with small fibrous roots. June-July 7th-August 14th.

Flowers large, showy, orange-yellow, fringed, in a many-flowered, spiked raceme, 3-6 inches long; nearly 3 inches broad. Labellum oblong and fringed. Sepals orbicular to ovate; lateral sepals reflexed; spur 1-1½ inch long, very slender; petals toothed, oblong, much smaller. Stem slender, leafy, 1-2½ feet high. Leaves lanceolate, 4-8 inches long, becoming bract-like above.

Continental Range—From Essex County, Canada, southward to New England, the pine barrens of New Jersey, Alabama, and Florida; westward to Illinois and Nebraska. The fringed Habenarias are among our most beautiful native orchids, gracing lake-side solitudes with their flame-like spikes of purple, white, or orange.

New England Range—Maine, not reported; New Hampshire, rare; Vermont, rare; Massachusetts, rare; Rhode Island, rare; Connecticut, rare.

13 — Habenaria Blephariglottis (Willdenow) Torrey, 1805-1826

White-fringed Orchis

The specific name, blephariglottis, refers to the fringed throat of this orchid.

A slender bogland orchid, in similar situations with H. ciliaris, with fleshy-fibrous roots. June (Alabama)-July 23d-August (New England).

Flowers pure white, in a loosely and many-flowered spiked raceme, smaller than those of H. ciliaris, with which it seems to intergrade. Labellum narrow, oblong, slightly fringed. Petals toothed or sparsely fringed. Stem leafy, slender, 1-2 feet high.

Continental Range—From Newfoundland southward to New England, North Carolina, and Alabama; westward to Minnesota. Intermediate forms between the Yellow-Fringed and the White-Fringed Habenarias are probably natural hybrids, as they are closely associated in their haunts during July and August, the hybrid usually being of a lighter yellow, blooming slightly earlier than the type species.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, frequent; Vermont, infrequent; Massachusetts, frequent; Rhode Island, infrequent; Connecticut, rare.

14 — Habenaria Holopetala (Lindley) A. Gray, 1835-186775

Cream-fringed Orchis

The specific name, holopetala, refers to the petals being complete, entire.

A small bogland orchid, with fleshy-fibrous roots. July-August.

Flowers beautiful, smaller than in preceding species, cream, or lighter yellow than H. ciliaris. Labellum sparingly fringed. Petals narrower and entire. Stem 1 foot high. Leaves similar to type species H. blephariglottis and H. ciliaris.

Continental Range—From Canada southward to Alabama, North Carolina, in company with H. blephariglottis.

New England Range—Refer to range of H. blephariglottis for New England.

15 — Habenaria Lacera (Michaux) R. Brown, 1803-1810

Ragged-Fringed Green Orchis

The specific name, lacera, refers to the lacerate or ragged and torn appearance of the fringed labellum of this species.

A bogland, meadow, or woodland orchid, with fleshy-fibrous roots. June 20th-July 15.

Flowers greenish-yellow, in loose-flowered spike, 2-6 inches long. Labellum 3-parted, deeply fringed or ragged. Sepals ovate, obtuse, upper one broader than lower ones. Stem slender or stout, leafy, 1-2½ feet high. Leaves lanceolate, 5-8 inches long; bract-like above.

Continental Range—From Nova Scotia southward to Georgia and Alabama; westward to Minnesota and Indiana.

In Thompson’s Swamps, Pownal, Vermont, this species intergrades with H. psycodes and H. clavellata. The hybrids, or those crossed with H. psycodes produce flowers with light purple, and less fringed than in the true type of H. lacera; while those crossed with H. clavellata are much less ragged fringed than in the type form of H. lacera, although in a much smaller spike, with nearly white or creamy-green flowers, resembling a large spike of H. clavellata.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, common; Vermont, common; Massachusetts, infrequent; Rhode Island, frequent; Connecticut, common.

16 — Habenaria Grandiflora (Bigelow) Torrey, 1824-1826 (Habenaria Fimbriata A. Gray, 1867)

Large Purple-Fringed Orchis—Long Purples—Dead-Men’s Fingers—Dead-Men’s Thumbs

The specific name, grandiflora, refers to the grand flowers of this species; the most beautiful among the bogland Habenarias.

Tall, damp woodland or bogland orchid, with fleshy-fibrous or palmate roots. June-July 22d-August 16th.

Flowers lilac or deep purple, fragrant in densely-flowered spiked raceme; 3-15 inches long; 1-2½ inches broad. Rarely white flowered spikes occur. Labellum 3-parted, ½-1 inch broad; ½ inch long, deeply fringed. Sepals and petals connivent, somewhat toothed. Spur 1-1½ inch long, clavate. Stem leafy, 1-5 feet high. Leaves numerous, oblong, 4-10 inches long, 1-3 inches wide; bract-like above.

Continental Range—From Nova Scotia southward to North Carolina; westward to Wisconsin and Michigan.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, common; Vermont, frequent; Massachusetts, frequent; Rhode Island, frequent; Connecticut, common.

17 — Habenaria Psycodes (Linnæus) A. Gray, 1753-1840

Small Purple-Fringed Orchis—Long Purples—Dead-Men’s Fingers—Dead-Men’s Thumbs

The specific name, psycodes, comes from the Greek psychoda, a butterfly, probably referring to the dainty poise of the fringed, and winged-petaled flowers.

Tall bogland or damp woodland orchid, with fleshy or palmately-tuberous roots. July 1st-August-September.

Flowers pink-purple, rarely white, very fragrant in densely flowered spiked raceme, 2-6 inches long; 1-1½ inches broad. Labellum 3-parted, fan-shaped, fringed, ⅓-½ inch broad, much smaller and often confused with the larger species (H. grandiflora). Sepals and petals similar in texture, lower sepals ovate, upper one narrower. Petals oblong, toothed on upper margin. Spur clavate at apex. Stem leafy, 1-3 feet high.

Continental Range—From Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Lake Huron southward to the swampy meadows in the western mountains of North Carolina; westward to Minnesota in tamarack sphagnous swamps.

New England Range—Maine, very common; New Hampshire, common; Vermont, common; Massachusetts, frequent; Rhode Island, common; Connecticut, frequent.

18 — Habenaria Andrewseii White N. Sp. (per Letter), 1903

Andrews’ Rose-Purple Orchis

Habenaria psycodes × lacera White and Andrews, Rhodora 3:245-248, 1901

The specific name, Andrewseii, refers to the species being named in honor of Dr. A. LeRoy Andrews, who described this species as a varietal form of H. psycodes × lacera. The species was first discovered and collected by Mr. Marcus White, July 22, 1899.

Tall bogland orchid, with fleshy roots. July 22d-August 16th.

Flowers white, to rose-purple. Labellum about ⅓-½ inch broad, divisions deeply cleft as in Habenaria lacera, yet more numerous. Sepals round-oval, obtuse. Petals cuneate-spatulate and denticulate above. Arms of column slightly acute, similar to Habenaria psycodes. Pollen stalked, greenish-yellow, somewhat 2-lobed, not obstructing the orifice of nectary, as observed in Habenaria lacera. Spur longer than ovary, clavate, much enlarged below. Ovary intermediate or rather short. Stem leafy, 1-2½ feet high. Raceme of flowers not as broad as in Habenaria psycodes, but more nearly resembling the spike of Habenaria lacera in form, yet fewer-flowered. Leaves several, as in Habenaria lacera.

Continental Range—Pownal Swamps, southwestern Vermont; no other station appears to be reported for this natural hybrid of the Purple-Fringed and Ragged Orchises (H. psycodes and H. lacera), yet it appears to be flourishing and increasing in numbers in its special haunts.

New England Range—Vermont, rare; Pownal Swamps August 5, 1901 (Marcus White and A. LeRoy Andrews); August 10-16, 1903 (Grace G. Niles).

IV — Pogonia

Jussieu, 1789

Sweet Pogonias

The generic name, Pogonia, comes from the Greek Πωγωνίας, signifying bearded, from the bearded labellum of the type species.

Small bogland or woodland orchids, with fibrous creeping roots. Anther, 1. Labellum erect from base of the column, spurless. Sepals and petals free. Anther terminal, stalked, attached to back of column. Pollinia, 2, 1 in each anther-sac, powdery-granular, without caudicle. Flowers solitary or 1-3 in terminal raceme. Leaves 1-5, alternating, or in whorls as in Pogonia verticillata. Seedlings numerous in many places.

Continental Range—There are about forty-five species of this genus distributed in the wooded regions of the world. The species of Pogonia have formerly been confused with Arethusa.

North American species north of Mexico	5
New England species	4
Hoosac Valley species	3-4

New England species:

1. P. ophioglossoides (Linnæus) Ker, 1753-1816.

2. P. trianthophora (Swartz) B. S. P., 1800-1888.

3. P. verticillata (Willdenow) Nuttall, 1805-1818.

4. P. affinis Austin, 1867.

1 — Pogonia Ophioglossoides (Linnæus) Ker, 1753-1816

Rose Pogonia—Snake-Mouth

The specific name, ophioglossoides, refers to the flower resembling a snake’s mouth.

Small sphagnous swamp-land orchid, with fibrous creeping roots. April-May (Florida), June 21st-July 20th (New England).

Flowers 1, sometimes 2, terminal, nodding, rather large for plants; rose and purplish-yellow; fragrant, subtended by a foliaceous bract. Labellum free, somewhat appressed to the column below, fringed and spurless. Sepals and petals about equal, similar. Stem 8-15 inches high. Leaves 1-3, rarely 1 basal leaf; the stem-leaf is ½-3 inches long, bluntly acute; foliaceous bract subtending seed-capsule.

Continental Range—From Newfoundland, southward to the pine barrens of Alabama and Florida; westward to Minnesota and Kansas.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, common; Vermont, common; Massachusetts, common; Rhode Island, common; Connecticut, common.

2 — Pogonia Trianthophora (Swartz) B. S. P., 1800-188876

Nodding Pogonia

The specific name, trianthophora, refers to the 3-lobed labellum and the usually 3 nodding flowers of this species.

Small woodland orchid, with tuberous roots. July-August 11th-September 24th.

Flowers 1-7 on axillary peduncles, pale purple, at first nearly erect, soon drooping, ½-⅔ inch long. Labellum 3-lobed, clawed, roughened, without a spur. Sepals and petals equal, connivent. Stem 3-8 inches high. Leaves, 2-8, alternate, ovate, clasping stem. Seed-capsule oval, drooping.

Continental Range—From Canada, southward to North Carolina, Alabama, and Kentucky; westward to Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, and Indiana.

New England Range—Maine, rare; New Hampshire, infrequent; Vermont, rare; Massachusetts, rare; Rhode Island, rare; Connecticut, infrequent.

3 — Pogonia Verticillata (Willdenow) Nuttall, 1805-1818

Large Whorled Pogonia

The specific name, verticillata, refers to the whorled or verticillate growth of the leaves.

Small moist woodland orchid, with fleshy-fibrous creeping roots. May 20th-June 15th.

Flowers solitary, purplish-green, and yellow, erect or declined, terminal; peduncle ½-⅔ inch long, in fruit exceeding the seed-capsule. Labellum 3-lobed, crested along a narrow band, upper part expanded, greenish-yellow. Sepals linear, 1½-2 inches long, ¹⁄₁₂ inch wide, spreading, dark purple; petals linear, obtuse, greenish-yellow, ⅚ inch long. Stem 10-12 inches high, round and purplish. Leaves 5, verticillate, in a whorl strongly recalling the whorls of the Indian Cucumber plants (Medeola), with which it grows in company; obovate, terminal, pointed at apex, 1-3 inches long. Rarely an obovate basal stem-leaf occurs below the whorl. The roots distinguish this plant from Indian Cucumber, yet many times the two plants so closely resemble each other that it is difficult to determine one from the other until the roots are revealed. The stem of the Pogonia, however, is larger, fleshy, purplish, and juicy, while the Indian Cucumber is brittle and slender.

Continental Range—From Ontario, Canada, southward to North Carolina and Florida; westward to Michigan and Indiana.

New England Range—Maine, not reported; New Hampshire, rare; Vermont, rare; Massachusetts, frequent; Rhode Island, rare; Connecticut, frequent.

4 — Pogonia Affinis Austin, 186777

Small Whorled Pogonia

The specific name, affinis, comes from the Latin affinitas, near alliance, referring to the close relation or affinity this species bears to its sister species, Pogonia verticillata.

Small moist woodland orchid, with fleshy-fibrous roots. June.

Flowers 2 or solitary, greenish-yellow, peduncle ⅙-⅓ inch long. Labellum crested over the whole face and lobes. Sepals and petals equal. Stem 8-10 inches high. Leaves in a whorl of 5 at the summit, smaller than the whorl in P. verticillata. Seed-capsule erect, 1 inch long.

Continental Range—From northern Vermont, southward to Pennsylvania. This orchid has quite recently been collected in Vermont, by Mrs. Henry Holt, near Burlington (1902). Several stations in New Jersey have been destroyed since Mr. Austin first identified it there.

New England Range—Maine, not reported; New Hampshire, not reported; Vermont, very rare; Massachusetts, very rare; Connecticut, frequent; it should be more common in this State, since P. verticillata is frequent.

V — Arethusa

Linnæus, 1753

Beautiful Arethusa

The generic name, Arethusa, refers to the dedication of this species to the nymph Arethusa of classical literature.

Small scapose orchids with bulbous roots; one of the most beautiful native orchids. Anther 1. Labellum dilated, recurved, bearded down the face, spreading at the apex. Sepals and petals similar, arched above, coherent below. Anther operculate. Pollinia 4; 2 in each anther-sac, powdery, granular. Scape 5-10 inches high, glabrous. Leaves 1, 4-6 inches long, linear, and hidden. 1-3 bracts or scales below. Seed-capsule 1 inch long, ellipsoid, 6-ribbed, rarely maturing.

Continental Range—In sphagnous bogs from Newfoundland, southward to North Carolina; westward to Minnesota. Rare throughout its range, seeking unfathomable cranberry marshes, among bushes of Kalmia and Labrador Tea, in close company with Rose Pogonia and Grass Pinks. A genus, consisting of 3 species for the world.

North American species north of Mexico	1
New England species	1
Hoosac Valley species	1

New England species:

1. A. bulbosa Linnæus, 1753.

1 — Arethusa Bulbosa Linnæus, 1753

Beautiful Arethusa

The specific name, bulbosa, refers to the bulbous roots of this orchid.

Small scapose, bogland orchid with bulbous roots. May 17th-June 30th.

Flowers 1, rarely 2; rose-purple, terminal, nodding, arising from between 2 unequal scales; 1-2 inches long. Labellum drooping, dilated, recurved, spreading at apex, often fringed or toothed, variegated with purple blotches and yellow. Sepals and petals linear, obtuse, arched over the column. Scape 5-10 inches high, glabrous, producing 1-3 sheathing bracts. Leaf 1, linear, many-nerved, 4-6 inches long, hidden above bracts. Root small, onion-like bulb. Seed-capsule 1 inch long, ellipsoid, 6-ribbed, rarely maturing, although seedlings appear numerous in natural haunts, the sphagnum being filled with lightly-attached bulbs.

Continental Range—From Newfoundland, southward to North Carolina; westward to Minnesota.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, common; Vermont, common; Massachusetts, frequent; Rhode Island, common; Connecticut, common.

VI — Gyrostachys

Persoon, 1807

(Spiranthes L. C. Richard, 1818)

Ladies’ Tresses

The generic name, Gyrostachys, refers to the twisting spikes, which resemble a “coil,” or “curl,” from which originated the common name of Ladies’ Tresses.

Erect spiked racemes of twisting flowers. Anther 1. Labellum clawed, concave, erect, embracing the column. Sepals free, coherent at top with petals, forming a galea. Flowers small, spurless, white or greenish, in rows. Anther without a lid, situated back of column. Pollinia 2, 1 in each anther-sac, powdery. Fragrance delicate. Stem leafy, bracted above basal leaves. Leaves linear, save in two species—G. simplex and G. gracilis, in which they are round, oblong, and basal. Roots fleshy-fibrous, or tuberous. Seed-capsule erect and oblong.

Continental Range—Common in pasture-land and meadow boglands; from Alaska, southward to Florida; westward to the Pacific coast. There are 80 or more species of this genus distributed throughout the tropical and temperate regions of the world.

North American species north of Mexico	19-20
New England species	6
Hoosac Valley species	5-6

New England species:

1. G. Romanzoffiana (Chamisso), MacMillan, 1828-1892.

2. G. plantaginea (Rafinesque), Britton, 1818-1896.

3. G. ochroleuca Rydberg, 1901.

4. G. cernua (Linnæus), Kuntze, 1753-1891.

5. G. simplex (A. Gray), Kuntze, 1867-1891.

6. G. gracilis (Bigelow), Kuntze, 1824-1891.

1 — Gyrostachys Romanzoffiana (Chamisso), MacMillan, 1828-1892

Hooded Ladies’ Tresses

The specific name, Romanzoffiana, refers to the species being named in honor of Count Romanzov, a Russian nobleman.

Rather conspicuous bogland orchid, with 1-6 tuberous roots. July 15th-August 27th-September 8th.

Flowers white or greenish, 3-rowed, in spiked racemes, slightly twisted, 2-4 inches long, ⅓-⅔ inch thick; very fragrant. Labellum oblong, contracted below the crisped apex. Sepals and petals broad at the base, hooded above. Stem 6-15 inches high. Leaves below, near the base, 3-8 inches long, with bracts above. Seedlings produce but one tuber, older plants several adhering, older tubers finally withering.

Continental Range—From Unalaska and New Metlakatla, along the southeastern coast of Alaska, southward to Pennsylvania; westward to the Pacific Ocean, ascending 8500 feet altitude in moist meadows in Yellowstone Park, Montana, and 9500 feet on Mount Graham, in Arizona. It is especially a Northern species.

New England Range—Maine, frequent; New Hampshire, infrequent; Vermont, infrequent; Massachusetts, rare; Reservoir Swamp, Notch Road, North Adams, August 17th, 1903 (Grace G. Niles); swamps, base of Mount Greylock, Adams, (Marcus White); Mr. White is the first botanist to collect this species in Massachusetts.

2 — Gyrostachys Plantaginea (Rafinesque) Britton, 1818-1896

Early Broad-leaved Ladies’ Tresses

The specific name, plantaginea, refers to a supposed resemblance of this species to the spikes and foliage of certain species of Plantain (Plantago).

Small moist woodland orchid, with fleshy-fibrous roots. June 7th-July 2nd-August 15th.

Flowers yellow and white, spreading, ¼ inch long, in densely flowered raceme, 1-2 inches long, ⅓-½ inch thick. Labellum pale yellow on face, oblong, not contracted in middle, apex rounded and fringed, base clawed. Sepals and petals white; lateral sepals free, lanceolate, upper sepal, united with petals. Stem 4-10 inches high. Leaves 4-5, oblanceolate, 1-5 inches long, becoming bract-like above.

Continental Range—From New Brunswick, Ontario, southward to Virginia; westward to Wisconsin and Minnesota. Rather rare in the southern and western range; nowhere abundant.

New England Range—Maine, rare; New Hampshire, rare; Vermont, frequent; Massachusetts, rare; Rhode Island, not reported; Connecticut, rare.

3 — Gyrostachys Ochroleuca Rydberg, Britton’s Manual. 300, 190178

Yellow Ladies’ Tresses

The specific name, ochroleuca, refers to the yellowish-green or ochroleucous color of the flowers.

Small hillside and damp pasture-land orchid, with fleshy or tuberous roots. August-September 1st-15th.

Flowers yellowish-green, very fragrant, in densely flowered raceme, conspicuously acute in bud, of creamy-green color, in company with G. cernua, but not so abundant. Labellum oblong, crenulate or crisped. Stem 12-20 inches high, pubescent. Leaves linear, tapering at both ends, basal, with bract-like leaves above. Slightly later than G. cernua.

Continental Range—From New Hampshire, southward to Pennsylvania, and North Carolina.

New England Range—Without doubt in each State in company with G. cernua, of which it appears to be a form. Frequent Mt. Washington, Massachusetts, and swamps about North Adams, September 1st (Grace G. Niles).

4 — Gyrostachys Cernua (Linnæus) Kuntze, 1753-1891

Nodding Ladies’ Tresses

The specific name, cernua, refers to cernuous or nodding flowers of this species.

Small bogland or damp meadow orchid, with fleshy or tuberous roots. August 25th-September 1st-28th-October.

Flowers white, fragrant, nodding or spreading, ½ inch long, in three rows; densely flowered raceme, twisted, 4-5 inches long, ½-⅔ inch thick. Labellum oblong, apex rounded, crisped. Lateral sepals free; upper one arching with petals. Stem 6-25 inches high. Leaves at or near base, linear-oblanceolate, 3-14 inches long, with 2-6 bracts above.

Continental Range—From the Barren Grounds in latitude 64°-69° North, southward to Florida; westward to Minnesota, Kansas, Indian Territory, Texas, and New Mexico.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, common; Vermont, common; Massachusetts, common; Connecticut, very common.

5 — Gyrostachys Simplex (A. Gray) Kuntze, 1867-189179

Little Simple Ladies’ Tresses

The specific name, simplex, refers to the simplicity of this species.

Slender sandy soil orchid, with single tuberous root. August-September 9th.

Flowers, white, small, ¹⁄₁₂ inch long; in slender, twisting, spiked raceme, 1 inch long. Labellum obovate-oblong, short-clawed, and crisped at the summit; callosities nipple-shaped. Stem simple and slender, 5-9 inches high, with small bracts above basal leaves, glabrous, slightly twisted. Leaves 2-3 basal, oblong and short, disappearing at or after flowering season.

Continental Range—From Massachusetts, southward to Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Tennessee. It appears more frequent near the coast, from Nantucket, Delaware, Staten Island, and throughout New Jersey, in company with G. gracilis.

New England Range—Massachusetts, rare; Rhode Island, rare; Connecticut, infrequent.

6 — Gyrostachys Gracilis (Bigelow) Kuntze, 1824-1891

Slender Ladies’ Tresses

The specific name, gracilis, refers to the slender and grass-like spike of this species.

Small sandy woodland or pasture-land orchid, with several spindle-shaped tuberous roots. April 15th, Florida (Curtiss); May, Alabama; July 25th-September-October 15th, both North and South.

Flowers white, very fragrant, ⅙-¼ inch long, in a slender spiked raceme, 1-3 inches long, ⅓-½ inch thick, loose, usually much twisted. Labellum white on margins, thick and greenish in middle, ⅙ inch long, clawed at the base, crenulate at the apex. Stem 8-24 inches high, slender, grass-like. Leaves 3 obovate, sometimes nearly orbicular, basal, dying away at or before flowering season.

Continental Range—From Nova Scotia, southward throughout Canada, and New England, to Florida; westward to Minnesota, and Texas.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, very common; Vermont, common; Massachusetts, common; Rhode Island, very common; Connecticut, common.

VII — Listera80

R. Brown, 1813

Lister’s Twayblade

The generic name, Listera, is in honor of Martin Lister, 1638(?)-1712, a correspondent of Ray.

Small orchids with fleshy-fibrous roots. Anther, 1. Labellum 2-cleft, longer than petals. Sepals and petals nearly alike. Flowers in terminal raceme, spurless. Anther erect, joined to column, without a lid. Pollinia, 2, united to gland, powdery. Stem 3-10 inches high. Leaves, 2, opposite, near the middle of the stem, 1-2 scales below.

Continental Range—In moist woodlands and boglands from Alaska, southward to Florida; westward to the Pacific coast. There are 12 species or more belonging to the north temperate zone which are closely related to species of Gyrostachys and Peramium, save in the herbaceous foliage.

North American species north of Mexico	8
New England species	3
Hoosac Valley species	1-2

New England species:

1. L. convallarioides (Swartz) Torrey, 1800-1826.

2. L. auriculata Wiegand, 1899.

3. L. cordata (Linnæus) R. Brown, 1753-1813.

1 — Listera Convallarioides (Swartz) Torrey, 1800-182681

Broad-lipped Twayblade

The specific name, convallarioides, refers probably to a supposed resemblance of this species to Convallaria, the Lily-of-the-Valley.

Small woodland orchid, with fleshy-fibrous roots. June 9th-August 17th.

Flowers purplish-yellow, 3-15 spurless, subtended by acute bracts, ¼-⅓ inch long. Labellum wedge-shaped, broader than sepals or petals, produced into 2 distinct lobes at the apex, notched in center, ornamented with tooth at the base. Sepals and petals linear-lanceolate. Stem 4-10 inches high. Leaves 2, nearly orbicular in the middle of stem, opposite, smooth, obtuse at the apex, 3-9 nerved.

Continental Range—From the wooded coast Unalaska, southward throughout the Canadian provinces, to North Carolina; westward to the fir-forests of Idaho, Washington, Wyoming, Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the Bay region of California.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, frequent; Vermont, infrequent; Massachusetts, doubtfully reported.

2 — Listera Auriculata Wiegand, 189982

Auricled Twayblade

The specific name, auriculata, from auriculum, ear, refers to the auricled base of the labellum and leaves of this species.

Small cedar swamp orchid, with fibrous roots. July.

Flowers, many in slender raceme. Labellum slightly ciliate, oblong, broadest at the auricled base, cleft ¼-⅓ its length. Sepals lanceolate; petals oblong-linear, longer than the ovary, spreading, obtuse. Stem 4-7 inches high, slender. Leaves large, oval, or elliptic-ovate, borne above the middle of the stem.

Continental Range—From Quebec, southward to Maine and New Hampshire.

New England Range—Maine, rare; New Hampshire, rare.

3 — Listera Cordata (Linnæus) R. Brown, 1753-1813

Heart-Leaved Twayblade

The specific name, cordata, refers to the cordate or heart-shaped leaves.

Small, moist woodland orchid, with fibrous roots. June 27th-July 30th-August 8th.

Flowers minute, purplish, in a loose raceme, ½-2 inches long, 4-20 flowered, pedicels bracted, ⅙ inch long. Labellum 2-cleft, narrow, with a tooth on each side at the base. Sepals and petals oblong-linear. Stem slender, 3-10 inches high. Leaves 2, heart-shaped, or cordate ½-1 inch long.

Continental Range—From Alaska, southward to Sierra Nevada Mountains in the Pacific region; and New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, in the Atlantic region. It appears to be more of a northern plant than L. convallarioides.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, common; Vermont, common; Massachusetts, infrequent; Rhode Island, rare; Connecticut, rare.

VIII — Peramium

Salisbury, 1812

(Goodyera R. Brown, 1813)

Rattlesnake Plantain

The origin of the generic name, Peramium, is not given in the original description. It may come from Ammon, Amen, the Egyptian Sun-God of Life, since to the blotched leaves of this genus the Indians attribute great powers, as a remedy against the deadly amniotic poison received from the rattlesnake’s bite.

Orchids with erect bracted scapes, and fleshy-fibrous roots. Anther 1. Labellum concave, or sessile roundish-ovate. Lower sepals free, upper one united with petals into a galea. Flowers in densely-flowered, or 1-sided bracted spikes. Anther erect, attached to column, without a lid. Pollinia 2, 1 in each anther-sac, composed of angular grains attached to small disk, cohering with top of stigma. Stems or scapes bracted, 5-20 inches high. Leaves several, basal, blotched, with beautiful network of white, green or yellow, resembling a snake’s skin. Seed-capsule erect, nearly always maturing. Seedlings abundant in conifer shades.

Continental Range—From Alaska, southward to Florida; westward to Minnesota and California. There are 25 or more species of this genus ranging in the temperate and tropical regions of the world.

North American species north of Mexico	5
New England species	4
Hoosac Valley species	3-4

New England species:

1. P. repens (Linnæus) Salisbury, 1753-1812.

2. P. pubescens (Willdenow) MacMillan, 1805-1892.

3. P. Menziesii (Lindley) Morong, 1840-1894.

4. P. ophioides (Fernald) Rydberg, 1899-1901.

1 — Peramium Repens (Linnæus) Salisbury, 1753-1812

Small One-Sided Goodyera—Net-Leaf Rattlesnake Plantain

The specific name, repens, refers to the creeping roots of this species.

Small conifer, woodland orchid, with fleshy-fibrous roots. July 19th-August 5th-30th.

Flowers white, on 1-sided spike, ⅙-¼ inch long. Labellum saccate, recurved, narrowed at apex; column short. Stem 5-10 inches high. Leaves ovate, basal in a rosette, pointed, yellowish-green, ½-1¼ inch long, ⅓-⅔ inch wide, blotched with white or lighter yellowish-green; several bracts above. This species intergrades with other New England species of Peramium, so as to make their designation difficult in many stations.

Continental Range—From Nova Scotia, possibly Alaska (?), southward to Florida; westward to Minnesota, South Dakota, and Colorado. Ascends 5000 feet altitude in Virginia.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, common; Vermont, common; Massachusetts, infrequent; Rhode Island, very rare; Connecticut, rare.

2 — Peramium Pubescens (Willdenow) MacMillan, 1805-1892

Downy Rattlesnake Plantain—Canker-Root

The specific name, pubescens, refers to the hirsute or downy leaves and scape of this species.

Small conifer woodland orchid, with fleshy-fibrous roots. June 15 Virginia (Curtiss); May 8th Wisconsin; July 4th-September, New England.

Flowers greenish-white, in densely-flowered (not 1-sided) spike. Labellum saccate, apex recurved, obtuse. Lateral sepals ovate; petals and upper sepal arching in an ovate galea. Stem 6-20 inches high, clothed with hairs, much more hirsute, or downy, than P. repens. Leaves basal, in a rosette, 1-2 inches long, strongly blotched with greenish-white, 5-10 scales above. The Creeping Goodyera (P. repens) intergrades with this species and causes confusion in designation. P. pubescens spikes are not 1-sided, the rosette of leaves are of a bluer velvety green, blotched with a purer white network, while P. repens rosette of leaves is dull yellowish-green.

Continental Range—From Ontario, Newfoundland, southward to Florida; westward to Minnesota. Ascends 4000 feet altitude in North Carolina.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, common; Vermont, common; Massachusetts, frequent; Rhode Island, rare; Connecticut, common.

3 — Peramium Menziesii (Lindley) Morong, 1840-189483

Menzies’ Rattlesnake Plantain

The specific name, Menziesii, refers to the dedication of this species, in honor of the explorer and botanist Menzies.

Small conifer woodland orchid, with fibrous-fleshy roots. June-July 21st-August 20th-September 15th.

Flowers greenish-white, spike not 1-sided. Labellum scarcely saccate, swollen at base, apex narrower, and recurved. Anther ovate, pointed; the buds, flowers, and leaves are all conspicuously acute. Stem 8-15 inches high. Leaves basal in rosette, bracts above, often without blotches of white; resembling P. pubescens very much, although the basal leaves are stiffer and acute at apex and base. The Peramiums intergrade with each other, confusing their specific characters.

Continental Range—From Loring, Chilcat, southeast coast of Alaska, southward to Lake Huron, Quebec, Maine, Vermont(?), and New York; westward to Arizona and California. Ascends 9500 feet altitude in Arizona.

New England Range—Maine, rare; New Hampshire, rare; Vermont, doubtfully reported; Massachusetts, doubtfully reported.

4 — Peramium Ophioides (Fernald) Rydberg, 1899-1901

White-Blotched Rattlesnake Plantain

The specific name, ophioides, comes from ophis, a serpent, and oides, like, referring to the blotched leaves resembling a snake’s skin.

Small cold mossy woodland orchid with thick fleshy-fibrous roots. July-September.

Flowers greenish-white; galea concave with a short, strongly recurved tip. Labellum deeply saccate, with recurved margins and tip. Anther blunt. Scape 4-8 inches high, glandular-pubescent. Leaves basal in rosette, several; leaf-blade broadly ovate, dark green, usually with the white blotches most conspicuous along the cross-veins. Spike of flowers 1-sided, loosely arranged. A variety of P. repens, with which it is confused.

Continental Range—From Prince Edward Island to Manitoba, southward to North Carolina, in company with P. repens and P. pubescens.

New England Range—Vermont, frequent; Massachusetts, common.

IX — Achroanthes

Rafinesque, 1808

(Microstylis Nuttall, 1818)

Adder’s-Mouth

The generic name, Achroanthes, refers to the green flowers of this genus.

Small orchids with solid bulbs. Anther, 1. Labellum cordate, or eared, at the base, embracing the column. Sepals free; petals linear, spreading. Flowers minute white or greenish, in a terminal raceme. Anther erect between the auricles, 2-celled. Pollinia, 4, 2 in each anther-sac, smooth and waxy, without caudicles or glands, and cohering at summit. Stem, 4-10 inches high. Leaf 1, with several scales at base of stem. Seed-capsule oval, or globose.

Continental Range—From Alaska, southward to Florida; westward to Nebraska and Arizona, where a species seeks 9500 feet elevation on Mount Graham. There are 70-80 species reported in the temperate and tropical regions of the world.

North American species north of Mexico	7
New England species	2
Hoosac Valley species	2

New England species:

1. A. monophylla (Linnæus) Green, 1753-1891.

2. A. unifolia (Michaux) Rafinesque, 1803-1808.

1 — Achroanthes Monophylla (Linnæus) Green, 1753-1891

White Adder’s-Mouth

The specific name, monophylla, refers, inappropriately, to the one leaf, since each of our New England species are 1-leaved.

Small woodland orchid, with bulbous root. June 20th-July 25th-August 2d.

Flowers whitish, in a club-like raceme, 1-3 inches long, ¼-½ inch thick; flowers ¹⁄₁₂ inch long, minute, pedicels nearly erect, subtended by bracts ⅙ inch long. Labellum ovate, acuminate, notched on sides. Sepals and petals acute, narrow. Stem, 4-6 inches high. Leaf, 1, sheathing at its base, 1-2 inches long, distinguished from following species, A. unifolia, by being near base of stem instead of middle.

Continental Range—From New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, southward to Vermont, doubtfully reported for New Bedford, Massachusetts; westward to Oneida, New York, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Indiana, and Texas.

New England Range—Maine, infrequent; New Hampshire, rare; Vermont, Pownal, Swamp of Oracles (Marcus White), rare; Massachusetts, Berlin, and Spencer (Dr. G. E. Stone); Mount Greylock bog, North Adams (Marcus White), rare.

2 — Achroanthes Unifolia (Michaux) Rafinesque, 1803-1808

Green Adder’s-Mouth

The specific name, unifolia, one-leaved, refers, like the preceding species, to the 1 leaf.

Small damp woodland orchid, with bulbous root. May-June 26th (South)-July 25th-August 10th-September (North).

Flowers in club-shaped raceme 1-3 inches long, 1 inch thick; greenish, minute, ¹⁄₁₂ inch long, pedicels slender, spreading, ¼-½ inch long. Labellum broad, 3-toothed at apex. Sepals oblong. Stem, 4-10 inches high. Leaf, 1, near the middle of stem, clasping, nearly orbicular. Seed-capsule oval, drooping.

Continental Range—From Newfoundland, Ontario, southward to Florida; westward to Missouri and Minnesota. Ascends 4000 feet altitude in North Carolina.

New England Range—Maine, frequent; New Hampshire, frequent; Vermont, Pownal (Grace G. Niles), rare; Massachusetts, Mount Greylock pasture, North Adams (Marcus White), rare; Rhode Island, rare; Connecticut, rare.

X — Leptorchis

Thouars, 1808

(Liparis Richard, 1818)

Lily-Leaved Twayblade

The generic name, Leptorchis, comes from the Greek, referring to a slender orchid. The former name, Liparis, referred to the smooth and shining leaves of these plants.

Small low orchids with bulbous roots. Anther, 1. Labellum nearly flat, often bearing 2 tubercles above the base. Sepals and petals spreading, petals usually narrow. Flowers in a terminal raceme, numerous and showy. Pollinia, 4, 2 in each anther-sac, smooth and waxy, slightly united, without stalks or glands. Stem or scape, 2-10 inches high. Leaves, 2, basal, broad, oval and shining, with several sheathing scales at base. Two or three seasons bulbs adhere to the latest bulb, and in time wither away. Seed-capsule long, erect, club-shaped.

Continental Range—In moist woodlands and along springy roadside banks. From Canada, New England southward to Georgia; westward to Iowa, Minnesota, and Washington. There are about 100 species of this genus, distributed in the temperate and tropical regions of the world.

North American species north of Mexico	2
New England species	2
Hoosac Valley species	2

New England species:

1. L. liliifolia (Linnæus) Kuntze, 1753-1891.

2. L. Loeselii (Linnæus) MacMillan, 1753-1892.

1 — Leptorchis Liliifolia (Linnæus) Kuntze, 1753-1891

Large Lily-Leaved Twayblade

The specific name, liliifolia, refers to the lily-leaves of this species.

Small, moist woodland orchid, with bulbous onion-like roots, more or less exposed. May 17th-June 1st-July 16th.

Flowers purplish-green in loose terminal raceme, many-flowered, and showy. Labellum purple, wedge-obovate. Sepals and petals narrow and reflexed. Stem or scape, 4-10 inches high. Leaves, 2, basal, oval, 2-5 inches long, smooth shining emerald-green. Seed-capsule club-shaped, erect.

Continental Range—From Maine southward to Georgia and Alabama; westward to Minnesota.

New England Range—Maine, rare; New Hampshire, infrequent; Vermont, infrequent; Massachusetts, infrequent; Rhode Island, rare; Connecticut, frequent.

2 — Leptorchis Loeselii (Linnæus) MacMillan, 1753-1892

Loesel’s Green Twayblade—Fen-Orchis

The specific name, Loeselii, refers to the dedication of this species in honor of the botanist Loesel.

Small damp thicket or dry sandy roadside orchid, with onion-like bulbous roots; old bulbs adhering to latest bulb, somewhat exposed. May 30th-June 25th-July 27th.

Flowers greenish, minute ⅙-¼ inch long, in a few-flowered raceme, smaller than preceding species, L. liliifolia; one of the smallest native orchids. Labellum pointed, obovate, apex incurved. Sepals narrow, lanceolate. Petals reflexed, linear. Stem or scape 2-8 inches high, 5-7 ribbed. Leaves 2, basal, 2-6 inches long, stiff, strongly veined, resembling Plantain leaves. Seed-capsules erect, wide-angled.

Continental Range—From Nova Scotia southward to Maryland, Kentucky; westward, to Minnesota and Washington.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, frequent; Vermont, common; Massachusetts, infrequent; Rhode Island, not reported; Connecticut, rare.

XI — Calypso84

Salisbury, 1807

Beautiful Calypso—Northern Calypso

The generic name, Calypso, refers to the dedication of this genus to the Goddess Calypso. Its Greek signification is not only, as Salisbury wrote, to “cover and conceal” the stigma of the species, but also to preserve a poetical analogy between this botanical goddess, so difficult of access, and the secluded Goddess of Silence, whose Isle of Ogygia was fabled to be miraculously protected from observation by navigators.85

Small bogland orchid with solid bulbous and coralloid roots. Anther 1. Labellum shoe-shaped, saccate, 2-parted at the apex. Sepals and petals free, similar in texture. Flowers 1, large, terminal pendulous, bracted, resembling a Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium). Linnæus wrongly designated this species Cypripedium bulbosum in 1753. Stem or scape 3-6 inches high. Leaf 1, hyemal, appearing as an autumnal leaf about September 2d,86 sheathed above by 2-3 scales. Anther lid-like below the summit of column. Pollinia 2, 2-parted, without caudicles, waxy, sessile, on a thick gland. Seed-capsule about ½ inch long, many-nerved.

Continental Range—From Alaska, Labrador, southward, to Middlebury, Vermont, and doubtfully reported for Pelham, Massachusetts; westward to California and New Mexico. First collected in the United States in the State of Vermont, at Charleston and Morgan by the botanist Carey, who resided at Bellows Falls in 1831-1833. A monotypic species ranging in cooler portions of north temperate zone, in Europe, Asia, and North America, assuming slight varietal changes in different regions.

North American species	1
New England species	1
Hoosac Valley species	0

New England species:

1. C. bulbosa (Linnæus) Oakes, 1753-1842.

1 — Calypso Bulbosa (Linnæus) Oakes, 1753-184287

Beautiful Calypso—Northern Calypso

The specific name, bulbosa, refers to the bulbous root of this species, which was originally confounded by Linnæus in 1753 as a bulbous Cypripedium, and later placed under its generic designation Calypso by Salisbury in 1807.

Small sphagnous bogland or conifer woodland orchid, with bulbous and coralloid roots. April 19th-May 3d-June 15th-July 12th.

Flowers terminal, variegated with purple-pink, yellow, or white; shoe-shaped or saccate, resembling a Lady’s Slipper, with which genus it was confused by Linnæus in 1753. Labellum large, saccate or shoe-shaped pink-purple, 2-parted at apex, with patch of yellow (or white) woolly hairs near the point of division, spreading. Sepals and petals free, similar in texture. Stem or scape 3-6 inches high. Leaf 1, autumnal, appearing about September 2d, hyemal, basal, sheathed above by 2-3 scales. Seed-capsule ½ inch long, many-nerved.

Continental Range—From Sitka, Alaska, Labrador, southward to Middlebury, Vermont, and possibly as far south as Pelham, Massachusetts; westward to Humboldt Bay, mouth of Russian River, California, and northeastern New Mexico.

First collected in the United States in Vermont by the botanist Carey in 1831-1833. The Rocky Mountain Calypso appears to be distinguished from the eastern Calypso by producing a beard of white instead of yellow hairs at the point of division of the labellum. This varietal form is designated Calypso occidentalis (Holzinger) Heller.

Robert Brown, as early as 1813, attempted to establish a distinct species in the American Calypso, from that of the European and Asiatic forms. He designated the North American form, Calypso Americana. Neither Lindley nor Hooker approved of this distinction, Hooker remarking that the species even in the same country may vary in structure or colors, but not permanently enough to designate it specifically. Smith, Richard and Lindley later agreed with Dr. Hooker in “considering the American, European and Asiatic Calypso the same.”

Calypso bulbosa is the only species of this genus in the north temperate zone, and is nearly related to the section Pleiones of genus Cœlogyne, meaning “two-lipped” or 2-parted at the apex of the labellum. Cœlogyne is a native of Asia, and many of the closely allied Pleiones are alpine-orchids, their large rose-colored or cream-colored flowers clinging to the branches of sturdy oaks at an altitude of 7500 feet in latitude 30° North. Calypso also seeks the colder lands, of the conifer forests of Alaska and Labrador, in latitude 54°-69° North; while in the Rocky Mountain region it is found at an elevation of 4000-5000 feet above sea level.

New England Range—Maine, frequent; New Hampshire, infrequent; Vermont, frequent northward; Massachusetts, doubtfully reported.

XII — Corallorhiza

R. Brown, 1813

Coral-Root

The generic name, Corallorhiza, refers to the coral-like masses of the roots of this genus.

Scapose orchids, saprophytes or root-parasites, with large masses of coralloid branching roots. Anther 1. Labellum 1-3 ridged. Sepals and petals equal; 1-3 nerved, lateral sepals united at the base with the foot of the column, forming a short spur. Flowers several in a terminal raceme, purplish, yellowish and white. Anther terminal, operculate. Pollinia 4, in 2-pairs, free, soft and waxy. Stem or scape 4-20 inches high. Leaves all reduced to scales. Seed-capsule oblong, drooping when ripe.

Continental Range—In rich woodlands. From Alaska, southward to Florida; westward to the Pacific region. There are about 15 species of this strange genus in the north temperate zone of the world. These species are destitute of green or any distinct form of foliage; their roots are without form, assuming coral-like masses, which draw nourishment for the plants from humus—the rich decay of dead roots and trees in the soil. These plants are known as saprophytes or root parasites.

North American species north of Mexico	9
New England species	4
Hoosac Valley species	3

New England species:

1. C. Corallorhiza (Linnæus) Karst, 1753-1880-1883.

2. C. odontorhiza (Willdenow) Nuttall, 1805-1818.

3. C. Wisteriana Conrad, 1829.

4. C. multiflora Nuttall, 1823.

1 — Corallorhiza Corallorhiza (Linnæus) Karst, 1753-1880-1883

Early Coral-Root

The specific name, Corallorhiza, refers to the coral-like roots of the species and genus.

Scapose rich woodland orchid, with coral-like roots. May 11th-June 28th-July 12th-August 5th (North) September-October (South). A vernal orchid, North, and an autumnal species in Georgia. The dates of flowering for the Corallorhizas are variable and not standard.

Flowers, 3-12 in a raceme 1-3 inches long, dull purple, about ½ inch long on short, minutely bracted pedicels. Labellum whitish, oblong, 2-toothed, shorter than petals, spur a small protuberance adnate to the summit of ovary. Sepals and petals narrow. Stem or scape, 4-12 inches high. Leaves reduced to 2-5 sheathing scales. Seed-capsule drooping.

Continental Range—from Greenland, and Kotzebue Sound, Unalaska, southward throughout Canada to Georgia; westward to Washington and Oregon. Ascends 7600 feet in Yellowstone Park, where it is rather common.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, frequent; Vermont, common; Massachusetts, common; Rhode Island, not reported; Connecticut, infrequent.

2 — Corallorhiza Odontorhiza (Willdenow) Nuttall, 1805-1818

Small-Flowered Coral-Root—Dragon-Claw—Late Coral-Root—Crawley-Root

The specific name, odontorhiza, comes from the Greek, odons, a tooth, and rhiza, a root, referring to the tooth-like shape of the coralloid roots.

Small slender woodland orchid, with coral-like masses of roots. February-March-May (South); July-August-September 6th-October 15th (North).

Flowers, 6-20, purplish, in raceme 2-4 inches long. Labellum oval, denticulate, narrowed at base; not notched, whitish; spur small, adnate to top of ovary. Sepals and petals lanceolate, marked with purple lines. Stem sheathed with 3-4 scales, 6-15 inches high. Confused with C. Corallorhiza northward.

Continental Range—From Ontario, Canada; Halifax, Nova Scotia, southward to Alabama, Florida, and Texas; westward to Illinois and Indiana. Ascends 3000 feet in North Carolina.

New England Range—Maine, rare; New Hampshire, rare; Vermont, rare; Massachusetts, Cole’s Grove, Williamstown (Cheney), rare; Rhode Island, rare; Connecticut, frequent.

3 — Corallorhiza Wisteriana Conrad, 182988

Wister’s Coral-Root

The specific name, Wisteriana, refers to the dedication of this species in honor of the botanist Wister.

Slender woodland orchid, with coral-branching roots. March 1st, Florida (Curtiss); Alabama, February-May.

Flowers whitish, 6-15, in spiked raceme 2-5 inches long; pedicels, erect and slender. Labellum broad and oval, white, clawed, with spots of crimson; notched at apex, differing in this from C. odontorhiza, which is not notched at the apex, but projects acutely; spur a conspicuous protuberance adnate to top of the ovary. Stem 8-16 inches high. Leaves reduced to several sheathing scales. Seed-capsule oblong drooping, when ripe.

Continental Range—From Massachusetts southward to Florida and Texas; westward to Ohio, taking much the same range, and flowering at the same time as C. odontorhiza.

New England Range—Massachusetts, rare.

4 — Corallorhiza Multiflora Nuttall, 1823

Spotted Large Coral-Root

The specific name, multiflora, refers to the multiplying of both flowers and plants in many stations.

Tall woodland orchid, with large masses of coralloid roots. May (Canada)-June 20th-July (Maine); August 14th (Massachusetts); September 15th (Connecticut).

Flowers, 10-30, brownish-purple, in spiked raceme 2-8 inches long; pedicels short; flowers ½-¾ inch long. Labellum white, spotted with purple, oval deeply 3-lobed, central lobe broad; side lobes narrow, apex curved. Spur manifest. Sepals and petals linear-lanceolate. Stem 2-20 inches high, purplish. Leaves reduced to several appressed scales. Seed-capsule oblong, drooping when ripe.

Continental Range—From Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, southward to Florida; westward to California. Ascends 2500 feet altitude in Montana (Tweedy).

New England Range—Maine, rare; New Hampshire, rare; Vermont, rare; Massachusetts, frequent; Rhode Island, rare; Connecticut, frequent.

XIII — Tipularia89

Nuttall, 1818

Crane-Fly Orchis

The generic name, Tipularia, refers to the flowers resembling insects of genus Tipula.

Slender scapose orchids, with solid bulbous roots; several bulbs, or generations connected by offsets. Anther 1. Labellum 3-lobed produced into a long spur backwardly. Sepals and petals similar, spreading. Flowers in a long, loose terminal raceme. Anther terminal, operculate, 2-celled. Pollinia, 4, 2 in each anther-sac, ovoid, waxy, separate, affixed to short stipe, glandular at base. Stem 15-20 inches high. Leaf 1, basal, arising in autumn, about September 14th, hyemal after the flowering-scape has perished. Seed-capsule ½ inch long, 6-ribbed.

Continental Range—From Brattleboro and Bellows Falls, Vermont, to New Jersey, Alabama, and Florida; westward to Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. Rare in sandy woods. There are but two known species reported for the world, the following, and another, native of Asia, in the Himalayan region. The American species is slightly distinguished from the Asiatic form by the blunt tip of its labellum.

North American species north of Mexico	1
New England species	1
Hoosac Valley species	0

New England species:

1. T. unifolia (Muhlenberg) B. S. P., 1813-1888.

1 — Tipularia Unifolia (Muhlenberg) B. S. P., 1813-1888 (Tipularia Discolor, Nuttall, 1818)90

Crane-Fly Orchis

The specific name, unifolia, refers to the 1 leaf produced by this orchid.

Alert, small moist sandy woodland or rocky hillside orchid, with solid irregular bulb or corm-like roots. Late July-August-October.

Flowers green, tinged with purple, ⅓-¼ inch long, in a loose raceme, 5-10 inches long; pedicels filiform, bractless. Labellum 3-lobed, central lobe narrow, prolonged, dilated at apex, side-lobes short and triangular. Spur straight, slender, twice as long as sepals and petals, giving an insectean poise to the dull flowers. Sepals and petals narrow. Stem 15-20 inches high. Leaf 1, basal, reddish-purple, strongly veined; arising from solid bulb, about September 14th, hyemal. Seed-capsule ½ inch long, 6-ribbed.

Continental Range—From southern Vermont, New Hampshire, southward to Florida and Alabama; westward to Michigan and Indiana. More abundant South. Nowhere common.

New England Range—Vermont, rare; Massachusetts, rare.

XIV — Limodorum

Linnæus, 1753

(Calopogon R. Brown, 1813)

Grass-Pink—Meadow-Gift

The generic name, Limodorum, comes from the Greek, signifying a meadow-gift.

Scapose orchids with solid bulbous roots. Anther 1. Labellum, hinged, arching above, and spreading; raised on a narrow stalk, dilated at the apex, bearded on the upper side with long club-shaped hairs. Sepals and petals nearly alike, separate and spreading. Flowers fragrant, pink-purple, 3-15 in a loose terminal raceme, seed-capsule (ovary) straight. Anther terminal, operculate, and sessile. Pollinia 2, 1 in each anther-sac, loosely granular. Stem or scape straight, not twisting as usual in other orchids, 1-1½ foot high. Leaf 1, grass-like blade, appearing first season, and followed next year by scape of flowers. Seed-capsule erect, oblong, and straight.

Continental Range—From Newfoundland, Canada, southward to Florida; westward to Minnesota and Arkansas. There are 4 species of this beautiful genus endemic only to the Atlantic region.

A peculiar character of this genus lies in the ovary and stem being straight, causing thereby the labellum to arch above instead of drooping below the organs of fertilization, as instanced in Orchis and Cypripedium. Seedlings appear numerous in many swamps.

North American species north of Mexico	4
New England species	1
Hoosac Valley species	1

New England species:

1. L. tuberosum Linnæus, 1753.

(Calopogon pulchellus R. Brown, 1813)

1 — Limodorum Tuberosum Linnæus, 1753 (Calopogon Pulchellus R. Brown, 1813)

Grass-Pink—Meadow-Gift

The specific name, tuberosum, refers to the tuberous or bulbous roots of this orchid.

Beautiful grassy sphagnous meadow orchid, with bulbous roots. May 15th-June 1st-July 20th-August 1st.

Flowers, 3-15 pink-purple, 1 inch long, subtended by acute bracts in spiked raceme 4-15 inches long. Labellum hinged, arching above, owing to ovary and stem being straight; broad, triangular at apex; bearded on the upper side with yellow, orange, and rose-colored club-shaped hairs. Sepals and petals acute, ovate-lanceolate, similar in texture and color. Stem or scape 1-1½ feet high. Leaf 1, linear-lanceolate, 8-12 inches long, grass-like with several scales below. Seed-capsule straight, erect, oblong.

Continental Range—From Newfoundland, Nova Scotia to the shores of Lake Huron, southward throughout New England to Florida; westward to western Texas and Minnesota.

New England Range—Maine, common; New Hampshire, common; Vermont, common; Massachusetts, common; Rhode Island, common; Connecticut, common.

XV — Aplectrum91

Nuttall, 1818

Putty-Root—Adam-and-Eve

The generic name, Aplectrum, comes from the Greek meaning without a spur.

Scapose orchids with bulb or corm-like roots. Anther 1. Labellum 3-lobed, shorter than petals. Sepals and petals about ½ inch long. Flowers without a spur, dull yellowish-brown in a loose raceme. Anther borne a little below the summit of column. Pollinia 4, lens-shaped. Stem or scape 1-2 feet high. Leaf 1, basal, arising from side of scape; several corms adhering to latest bulb; leaf develops in late autumn, about September 9th, hyemal; several sheathing scales above. Seed-capsule oblong, ovoid, angled.

Continental Range—From Ontario, southward to Georgia and Alabama; westward to Minnesota, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and probably in northern California. Rather rare and local.

North American species north of Mexico	2
New England species	1
Hoosac Valley species	0

New England species:

1. A. spicatum (Walter) B. S. P., 1788-1888.

1 — Aplectrum Spicatum (Walter) B. S. P., 1788-1888 (Aplectrum Hyemale Nuttall, 1818)9293

Putty-Root—Adam-and-Eve

The specific name, spicatum, refers to the flowers growing in a spica, or spike.

Tall, spiked damp sandy woodland or bogland orchid, with bulbous or corm-like roots. May 22d-July 1st (Northern States); April 20th-July 1st (Southern States).

Flowers, 1-9 dull yellowish-brown, mixed with purple, 1 inch long, short-pediceled, in a loose raceme 2-4 inches long. Labellum shorter than petals, 3-lobed. Sepals and petals ½ inch long, linear-lanceolate. Stem or scape 1-2 feet high, producing 3 scales above the leaf. Leaf 1, basal, arising at side of scape, from the latest bulb or corm; elliptic, 4-6 inches long, appearing about September 9th, hyemal—lasting through the winter.

Continental Range—From Ontario, southward to Georgia and Alabama; westward to Minnesota, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and probably California.

This species, like those of Corallorhiza, is not a definite dated flowering orchid; in the Virginian ravines it blooms as early as April 20th while in Wisconsin, and Missouri it blooms as late as July 1st. The average date for New England is from May 22d-June 25th.

New England Range—Maine, rare; New Hampshire, rare; Vermont, rare; Massachusetts, rare; Rhode Island, not reported; Connecticut, rare.

Table of Measurements

ENGLISH				METRIC.
1½	inch	(1″)	=	2	millimetres	(mm.).
1	inch	(1′)	=	2.5	centimetres	(cm.).
1	foot	(1°)	=	3	decimetres	(dm.).

Footnotes

1 Thoreau, Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, p. 244.

2 Thoreau, “Walking,” Excursions, p. 252.

3 Burroughs, A Year in the Fields.

4 Milton, Comus.

5 Whittier, The Mayflowers.

6 Thoreau, The Maine Woods, p. 34.

7 L. H. Bailey, Jr., Talks Afield, p. 128. 1885.

8 Thoreau, “Walking,” Excursions, p. 252.

9 Henry Baldwin, Orchids of New England, Plate 8, 1894.

10 Henry Baldwin, Orchids of New England, p. 38, 1894.

11 Henry Baldwin’s Orchids of New England, p. 37, 1884.

12 Thomas Wentworth Higginson, The Procession of the Flowers, p. 47.

13 Gray, Fertilization of Orchids, in Sill. Journ. 1862-1863.

14 C. A. Crandall, Plant World, p. 6. Jan., 1900.

15 Darwin, Fertilization of Orchids, p. 284. 1895.

16 Ibid., p. 291.

17 Darwin, Fertilization of Orchids, p. 292. 1895.

18 Ibid.

19 Darwin, Fertilization of Orchids, pp. 285-286. 1895.

20 Thomas Wentworth Higginson, The Procession of the Flowers, p. 17.

21 John Richardson, M.D., Bot. Appendix, Report of Franklin’s Journey, 2d ed., p. 34, 1823.

22 Dr. F. Kurtz, List of Alaskan Orchids, Expedition 1882.

23 A. W. Driggs, Catalogue Plants of Connecticut, p. 19. 1901.

24 F. F. Le Moyne, Garden and Forest, 3: 1890.

25 T. W. Higginson, The Procession of the Flowers, p. 21.

26 Thoreau, Summer, p. 198.

27 Ibid., p. 347.

28 Thoreau, Summer, p. 347.

29 Darwin, Fertilization of Orchids, p. 226. 1895.

30 Thomas Meehan, The Native Flowers and Ferns of the United States, p. 104. 2: 1878.

31 Darwin, Fertilization of Orchids, p. 284. 1895.

32 Dr. S. H. Scudder, Proc. Soc. Nat. Hist. Boston, 9: 1863.

33 Thoreau, Summer, pp. 84-85. 1884.

34 Dodoens, History of Plants, p. 156. 1578.

35 Lyte’s translation of Dodoens’ History of Plants, pp. 161-162 (1 ed., 1578).

36 Bryant, The Gladness of Nature.

37 Vacinium comes from Baccinium, and was derived from Baccæ—Dodoens, Hist. Pl., 1578.

38 Clipping from The Transcript, North Adams, Mass., Feb., 1900.

39 F. H. Blodgett, The Plant World, p. 52, March, 1902.

40 Dodoens, History of Plants, 1578.

41 Ibid.

42 Milton, Lycidas.

43 Milton, L’Allegro.

44 The Plant World, July, 1900; February, 1901; September, 1902; November, 1902.

45 Dr. Rembert Dodoens, History of Plants, Lyte’s Trans., 1st ed., p. 119. 1578.

46 Bryant, To a Mosquito.

47 Hawthorne’s American Notes.

48 Dodoens, History of Plants, p. 290. 1578.

49 T. B. Aldrich, Bluebells of New England.

50 Thoreau, Maine Woods, p. 300.

51 Hawthorne, American Notes, September 9, 1838.

52 Hawthorne, Ethan Brand.

53 Thoreau, Tuesday, Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers.

54 Thoreau, Tuesday, Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers.

55 Hawthorne, American Notes, August 31, 1838.

56 Dr. T. F. Wolfe, Literary Shrines, 173, 1895.

57 Hawthorne, American Notes, July 31, 1838.

58 Ibid.

59 Hawthorne, American Notes, July 31, 1838.

60 Burroughs, Riverby.

61 Bryant, The Painted Cup.

62 Thoreau, Letters. To Sophia Thoreau, May 22, 1843.

63 Bryant, To the Fringed Gentian.

64 Former generic designations, now antedated.

65 Genera not reported for Hoosac Valley region, although native of Vermont.

66 Species not reported for Hoosac Valley region, although reported for Connecticut.

67 Nicholson’s Ill. Dict. and Gard. Ency. Hort. Gard. Kew, 1887.

68 Species not reported for Hoosac Valley region, although native of Vermont.

69 Doubtfully reported for Hoosac Valley region, although native of Vermont.

70 Doubtfully reported for Hoosac Valley region, but should be looked for wherever H. hyperborea grows.

71 A. L. Andrews, Rhodora, 4:79-81, 1902.

72 Doubtfully reported for Hoosac Valley region, although native of Vermont.

73 A. L. Andrews, Rhodora, 4: 79-81, 1902.

74 Species not reported for Hoosac Valley region, although native of Vermont.

75 Species not reported for Hoosac Valley region, although native of Vermont.

76 Species doubtfully reported for the Hoosac Valley region, although native of Vermont.

77 Species not reported for Hoosac Valley region, although native of Vermont.

78 Species doubtfully reported for Hoosac Valley region, although native of Massachusetts.

79 Species not reported for Hoosac Valley region, although native of Massachusetts.

80 Genus doubtfully reported for Hoosac Valley region, although native of Vermont.

81 Species not reported for Hoosac Valley region, although native of Vermont.

82 Species not reported for Hoosac Valley region, although native of northern New England.

83 Species not reported for Hoosac Valley region, although native of northern New England.

84 Genus not reported for Hoosac Valley region, although native of Vermont.

85 Salisbury, Pard. Lond., pl. 89. 1807.

86 Henry Baldwin, Orchids of New England, 93. 1894.

87 Species not reported for Hoosac Valley region, although native of Vermont.

88 Species not reported for Hoosac Valley region, although native of Massachusetts.

89 Genus not reported for Hoosac Valley region, although native of Vermont.

90 Species not reported for Hoosac Valley region, although native of Vermont.

91 Genera not reported for Hoosac Valley region, although native of Vermont.

92 Species not reported for Hoosac Valley region, although native of Vermont.

93 The common name, Putty-Root, arose from the putty-like consistency of the adhesive substance of the old corms or bulbs; used to mend broken china. The name Adam-and-Eve originated with the colored folk in Georgia and Alabama. The bulbs are not disagreeable to eat if baked, and many confess to be fond of them. The colored people in the South are said to wear these bulbs as amulets, and attribute great favor to them in casting lots. By separating the offsets, they designate them Adam-and-Eve, as the rule may be, and placing them in a bowl of water decide their good or ill fortune in obtaining work, or a lover, according as Adam or Eve “pops up.”