DIVISION V.

ENDOGENÆ. Part I., chap. 1. § 3.

Endogenous plants. Parts of the flower usually in three, six, nine, &c. Leaves with parallel veins.*

Perianth, not easily to be distinguished into calyx and corolla.

ANALYSIS OF THE FAMILIES.

I.

Petaloidea. Flowers not glumaceous; i.e., not enclosed in chaffy scales, similar to corn.

1. Flowers conspicuous, often very beautiful.

(1.) Ovary inferior, combined with the tube of the perianth.

• Black bryony and Paris are exceptions, having the leaves netted like those of exogenous plants.

One family contains several genera.

The Orchis family

...

1. Orchidaceæ.

Four families contain each but one or few genera.

(2). Ovary superior, free from the tube of the perianth.

One family contains several genera.

The Lily family

...

6. Liliaceæ.

Four families contain each but one or few genera.

(1). Flowers upon a spadix, a kind of thick fleshy spike.

The Reed-mace family

R

...

11. Typhaceæ.

Perianth of 6 segments, usually coloured. One segment, the lowest in consequence of the ovary being twisted, is called the lip, and differs in appearance from the rest, being generally of some peculiar or grotesque shape, and is often spurred. Stamens

3, united with the style into one column (gynandrous). Ovary inferior. Capsule 3-valved, containing numerous seeds. Nearly identical with the Linnæan class, Gynandria.

BRITISH GENERA.

Orchis. Gymnadenia. Habenaria. Aceras. Herminium. Ophrys. Epipactis. Listera. Neottia.

Liparis. Corallorhiza. Cypripedium.

Goodyera. Malaxis.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Orchis. Lip 3-lobed, spurred.

Purple orchis. O. mascula.—Bears a large spike of flowers in a manner similar to the garden hyacinth. Flowers purple. Leaves marked with large dark spots. Woods and pastures. April-June.

Meadow orchis. O. morio. Two outer segments of the perianth marked with green lines, and united into a kind of hood over the lip. Meadows and pastures. June.

Spotted orchis. O. maculata.—Flowers light purple, variegated, dotted. Leaves spotted. Pastures, &c. June, July.

Fragrant orchis. Gymnadenia conopsea.-Similar to the orchis. Flowers light crimson, not dotted, in a long spike, and very fragrant. Dry pastures and heaths. June-August.

Butterfly orchis. Habenaria bifolia.-Distinguished from the former principally by its long and slender spur. A very handsome species of this family, with a large spike of delicate white flowers. The position of the spur, the shape of the two lateral segments of the perianth, and the singular structure and tint of the lip, give the whole flower a considerable resemblance to a small butterfly. The stem has two leaves near the root, much larger than those upon its upper portion. Moist places and meadows. June-August.

Man orchis.

Aceras anthropophora.-Lip without a spur. The lip is curiously divided into narrow segments, resembling a body with arms and legs, over which is a helmet composed of the outer segments of the perianth. Flowers yellowish and green, on a long spike. June.

Ophrys.-Lip without a spur, curiously figured and coloured. Flowers having a striking resemblance to some insect.

Bee orchis. Ophrys apifera.-Lip large, much resembling the body of a bee. Segments of the perianth resembling antennæ and wings, rose-coloured. Chalky places. June, July.

Fly orchis. Ophrys muscifera.-Flowers much smaller, in narrower segments, somewhat resembling a fly. Chalky pastures. May-July.

Listera. Lip hanging down, 2-lobed.

Tway blade.

L. ovata.—The stem bears a pair of oval leaves