Part 38

LARGE WHORLED POGONIA

The specific name, verticillata, refers to the whorled or verticillate growth of the leaves.

Small moist woodland orchid, with fleshy-fibrous creeping roots. May 20th-June 15th.

=Flowers= solitary, purplish-green, and yellow, erect or declined, terminal; peduncle ½-⅔ inch long, in fruit exceeding the seed-capsule. =Labellum= 3-lobed, crested along a narrow band, upper part expanded, greenish-yellow. =Sepals= linear, 1½-2 inches long, ¹⁄₁₂ inch wide, spreading, dark purple; =petals= linear, obtuse, greenish-yellow, ⅚ inch long. =Stem= 10-12 inches high, round and purplish. =Leaves= 5, verticillate, in a whorl strongly recalling the whorls of the Indian Cucumber plants (Medeola), with which it grows in company; obovate, terminal, pointed at apex, 1-3 inches long. Rarely an obovate basal stem-leaf occurs below the whorl. The roots distinguish this plant from Indian Cucumber, yet many times the two plants so closely resemble each other that it is difficult to determine one from the other until the roots are revealed. The stem of the Pogonia, however, is larger, fleshy, purplish, and juicy, while the Indian Cucumber is brittle and slender.

Continental Range—From Ontario, Canada, southward to North Carolina and Florida; westward to Michigan and Indiana.

New England Range—Maine, not reported; New Hampshire, rare; Vermont, rare; Massachusetts, frequent; Rhode Island, rare; Connecticut, frequent.

4.—POGONIA AFFINIS Austin, 1867

SMALL WHORLED POGONIA

The specific name, affinis, comes from the Latin affinitas, near alliance, referring to the close relation or affinity this species bears to its sister species, Pogonia verticillata.

Small moist woodland orchid, with fleshy-fibrous roots. June.

=Flowers= 2 or solitary, greenish-yellow, peduncle ⅙-⅓ inch long. =Labellum= crested over the whole face and lobes. =Sepals= and =petals= equal. =Stem= 8-10 inches high. =Leaves= in a whorl of 5 at the summit, smaller than the whorl in P. verticillata. Seed-capsule erect, 1 inch long.

Continental Range—From northern Vermont, southward to Pennsylvania. This orchid has quite recently been collected in Vermont, by Mrs. Henry Holt, near Burlington (1902). Several stations in New Jersey have been destroyed since Mr. Austin first identified it there.

New England Range—Maine, not reported; New Hampshire, not reported; Vermont, very rare; Massachusetts, very rare; Connecticut, frequent; it should be more common in this State, since P. verticillata is frequent.

Arethusa

Linnæus, 1753

BEAUTIFUL ARETHUSA

The generic name, Arethusa, refers to the dedication of this species to the nymph Arethusa of classical literature.

Small scapose orchids with bulbous roots; one of the most beautiful native orchids. =Anther= 1. =Labellum= dilated, recurved, bearded down the face, spreading at the apex. =Sepals= and =petals= similar, arched above, coherent below. =Anther= operculate. =Pollinia= 4; 2 in each anther-sac, powdery, granular. =Scape= 5-10 inches high, glabrous. =Leaves= 1, 4-6 inches long, linear, and hidden. 1-3 =bracts= or scales below. =Seed-capsule= 1 inch long, ellipsoid, 6-ribbed, rarely maturing.

Continental Range—In sphagnous bogs from Newfoundland, southward to North Carolina; westward to Minnesota. Rare throughout its range, seeking unfathomable cranberry marshes, among bushes of Kalmia and Labrador Tea, in close company with Rose Pogonia and Grass Pinks. A genus, consisting of 3 species for the world.

North American species north of Mexico 1 New England species 1 Hoosac Valley species 1

New England species:

1. A. bulbosa Linnæus, 1753.

1.—ARETHUSA BULBOSA Linnæus, 1753

BEAUTIFUL ARETHUSA

The specific name, bulbosa, refers to the bulbous roots of this orchid.

Small scapose, bogland orchid with bulbous roots. May 17th-June 30th.

=Flowers= 1, rarely 2; rose-purple, terminal, nodding, arising from between 2 unequal =scales=; 1-2 inches long. =Labellum= drooping, dilated, recurved, spreading at apex, often fringed or toothed, variegated with purple blotches and yellow. =Sepals= and =petals= linear, obtuse, arched over the column. =Scape= 5-10 inches high, glabrous, producing 1-3 sheathing bracts. =Leaf= 1, linear, many-nerved, 4-6 inches long, hidden above bracts. =Root= small, onion-like bulb. =Seed-capsule= 1 inch long, ellipsoid, 6-ribbed, rarely maturing, although seedlings appear numerous in natural haunts, the sphagnum being filled with lightly-attached bulbs.

Continental Range—From Newfoundland, southward to North Carolina; westward to Minnesota.