cies was first described by Hr. Bigelow, under the name of Orchis
grandijlora, and is a more splendid plant than the preceding ;
perhaps the largest of the Orchis tribe, and having the most showy
flowers. Stem 2 feet high or more, thick, angular, hollow ; leaves
below oblong-oval, obtuse ; upper leaves lanceolate, acuminate ;
spike often 5 inches long, and 3 in diameter, many-flowered ;
flowers large, pale-purple, with the 3 petals fringed ; Lancaster,
Deerfield, &c. A variety (/?) of the preceding. Gray, ubi
supra.
H. orbiculata. Round-leafed Orchis, is the Orchis orbiculata,
Ph., distinguished by its two radical, large, roundish, nerved
leaves ; woods ; July. Platanthera orbiculata. Lind.
H. dilatata, is the Orchis dilatata, Ph. A large, tall, leafy
plants with unattractive flowers, in wet situations about the rivulets
of hills in Berkshire County, often 2 — 3 feet high, flowers
greenish-white ; July. Platanthera dilatata. Land.
H. bracteata. R. Br. Grows about a foot high, leafy, with
green flowers in a loose spike, spur obtuse and very short, bracts
spreading; woods; July.
Interesting as the other species (H. blephariglottis, Hooker,
cristata, R. Brown, ciliaris, R. Brown, herbiola, R. Brown
(0 . - Jlava, L.), macrophylla, Goldie, psycodes. H. incisa,
Sprengel, is H. psycodes) are to the botanist, they scarcely r e -'
quire full description in this place.
N ote. The roots of some species contain a large quantity of
farinaceous matter. The nutritious preparation, Salep, derived
from the Arabic name of Orchis, is made in Turkey from the
roots of these plants,. It has been formed too in England from
the roots of O. mascula and others, and might, probably, if needed,
be procured from the species of Orchis and Habenaria in this
country. The roots are washed white, dried, and ground to
powder, which is the white nutritious Salep. Loudon.
A plectrum. Nutt. 18. 1.
A. hyemale. Nutt. Adam and Eve. A singular plant with
a single leaf sheathed, and bearing a few flowers towards the summit.
The form of the flower originates the popular name. In
shady, wet woods in the valleys of Berkshire County ; flowers in
June.
A rethusa. L. 18. 1.
A. bulbosa. L. Bulbous Arethusa. The 5 divisions of the
floral envelope are united at the base, and the lip is attached to
the base of the column. This species is 6—10 inches high, with
a sheathed stem, and 1, rarely 2, large purple flowers at the summit
; lip curled and crenate ; root bulbous ; swamps ; May.
T riphora. Nutt. 18. 1.
T. pendula. Nutt. Taken from the preceding, and has the
5 segments distinct, equal, and approaching ; often grows in clusters,
4 inches high, with 6 or 7 short, clasping leaves ; flowers 3
or 4, pale-purple ; root tuberous ; at roots of trees ; September.
P ogonia. Brown. 18. 1.
From the Greek for beard,- on account of its fringed lip ; a
North American genus of few, but handsome species.
P. ophioglossoides. R. Br. Snake-mouthed Arethusa, from
which genus it was taken ; stem nearly a foot high, with a single
flower, nodding and pale-purple, and one oval-lanceolate leaf, and
a leafy bract near the flower; lip fimbriate.; swamps ; July. The
flower resembles a snake’s head, whence its specific name.
P. verticillata. Nutt. Whorled Arethusa. Stem about a
foot high, with 5 whorled, oblong-lanceolate leaves, near the
solitary and terminal flower, of which the 3. outer segments are
long and linear ; swamps ; June.
C alopogon. Brown. 18. 1.
Named from the Greek for beautiful beard, as the lip is beauti