1. B. biflòra, L. Stem low and slender (2–4´ high), 2-flowered at the summit, or soon several-flowered; perianth (2–3´´ long) bright blue, 3-winged.—Peaty bogs, Va. to Fla.
Order 110. ORCHIDÀCEÆ. (Orchis Family.)
Herbs, clearly distinguished by their perfect irregular flowers, with 6-merous perianth adnate to the 1-celled ovary, with innumerable ovules on 3 parietal placentæ, and with either one or two gynandrous stamens, the pollen cohering in masses. Fruit a 1-celled 3-valved capsule, with innumerable minute seeds, appearing like fine saw-dust. Perianth of 6 divisions in 2 sets; the 3 outer (sepals) mostly of the same petal-like texture and appearance as the 3 inner (petals). One of the inner set differs more or less in figure, direction, etc., from the rest, and is called the lip; only the other two taking the name of petals in the following descriptions. The lip is really the upper petal, i.e. the one next to the axis, but by a twist of the ovary of half a turn it is more commonly directed forward and brought next the bract. Before the lip, in the axis of the flower, is the column, composed of a single stamen, or in Cypripedium of two stamens and a rudiment of a third, variously coherent with or borne on the style or thick fleshy stigma; anther 2-celled; each cell containing one or more masses of pollen (pollinia) or the pollen granular (in Cypripedium). Stigma a broad glutinous surface, except in Cypripedium.—Perennials, often tuber-bearing or tuberous-rooted; some epiphytes. Leaves parallel-nerved, all alternate. Flowers often showy, commonly singular in shape, solitary, racemed, or spiked, each subtended by a bract,—in all arranged for fertilization by the aid of insects, very few capable of unaided self-fertilization.
Tribe I. EPIDENDREÆ. Anther terminal, erect or inclined, operculate. Pollinia smooth and waxy, 4 or 8 (2 or 4 in each cell), distinct, or those in each cell (or all in n. 3 and 7) united at base. (Pollinia 8 only in n. 7 of our genera.)
[*] Green-foliaged plants, from solid bulbs, with 1 or 2 leaves.
[+] Column very short; leaf solitary.
1. Microstylis. Flowers racemose, minute, greenish. Petals filiform.
[+][+] Column elongated; leaves radical.
[++] Whole plant (except the flowers) green.
2. Liparis. Leaves 2. Raceme few-flowered. Lip flat, entire.