fully fringed as if finely bearded ; a North American genus of one
species, taken from Cymbidium ; petals 5, distinct, lip behind or
inverted, unguiculate.
C. pulchellus. R. Br. Grass Pink. An elegant plant, with
grass-like leaves, and fine pink flowers at the summit, on a stem a
foot high ; leaf usually single, 8 inches long, sheathing at the base;
flourishes in wet, marshy situations, and has an elegant appearance ;
June. Some of its bulbous roots were accidentally carried to
England, and the plant propagated from them.
C orallorhiza. R. Br. 18. 1.
From the resemblance of the root to coral; lip' produced
behind.
C. odontorrhiza. Nutt. Coral-toothed Root. A small, yellowish
plant, 8 ^ 1 2 inches high, with small purplish flowers, and
lip dilated and finely spotted ; stem leafless, sheathed ; woods ;
August.
L is t e r a . Br.
L. cordata. R. Br. Has a 2-lobed lip, sessile ; stem about 6
inches high, with 2 opposite, roundish leaves, veined and smooth,
and with small, distant, green and purple flowers, irregular ;
swamps ; May ; often called Tioay-blade ; named in honor of
Dr. Lister. Indigenous also to England.
N eot tia. S w. 18. 1.
As the fibres of the roots are singularly interwoven, the genus
has been named from the Greek for bird's nest; a few species
whose spiked flowers stand like a spiral or screw, are hence
named by Richard, Spiranthes.
N . tortilis. Sw. Ladies’ Tresses. Has finely twisted flowers,
white and ringent, on a stem a foot high, and leafy towards the
base ; cold, wet meadows and pastures ; June.
JV. cernua. Sw. Nodding Tresses. Flowers greenish-white,
on a scape of very variable height, often no more than 4 — 8 inches,
naked or partially leafy ; spike dense and nodding ; wet grounds ;
August.
G oodyera. R. Brown. 18. 1.
So called after J . Goodyer, an English botanist ; lateral segments
of corolla below the lip, which is gibbous at the base;
taken from Neottia.
G. pubescens. R. Br. Rattlesnake Violet, or Plantain. Stem
a foot high, with small, scattered hairs, terminated by many small,
white flowers, on an oblong spike, twisting; radical leaves greenish
and veined with white, of very elegant appearance ; woods ;
August. This plant has had great reputation among root and Indian
doctors, as a remedy for sprophulous ,affections. In the only
case I ever knew it applied, no perceptible effect followed.
G. repens. R. Br. A smaller plant, with netted radical leaves ;
scape sheathed, and flowers pubescent; woods ; July. Flowers
greenish-white.
Malaxis. S w. 18. 1.
From the Greek for softness, on account of the delicate texture
of some species ; a genus of few species ; floral envelope spread-
ing, lip flat and entire ; column of stamens winged.
M. liliifolia. Sw. Twayblade. Flowers in a slight raceme,
on an angular scape, with 2 ovate-oblong leaves near the ro o t;
slender and humble plant; wet woods ; June. Flowers yellowish-
white.
•M. Lceselii. Sw. This plant is probably J\I. correana, Bart. ;
leaves 2 opposite, radical ; scape 6 inches high, angular ; flowers'
yellowish-green, in a terminal spike ; wet woods ; July.
Mic ro sty l is . Nutt. 18. 1.
Named from its small style; a genus of few species ; lip sessile
and cordate,-erect and 2-toothed ; column minute.
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