Part 35

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, 1753-1813

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, 1835-1867

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.