Copy 2, Volume 4

The English flora / By Sir James Edward Smith.

  • Smith, James Edward, 1759-1828.
Date:
1824-1836
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The English flora / By Sir James Edward Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/388 (page 8)
    GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. * Anther of 2 distinct vertical cells, fixed to the summit of the column. 411. ORCHIS. Orchis. Linn. Gen. 461. Juss.65. Fl. Br.918. Tourn. t. 247. A,B. Lam. t.726. Satyrium. Lam. t. 726. Habenaria. Willd. Sp. Pl. v. 4.44. Br. Pr. 312. Cal. superior, of 3 ovate, slightly concave, nearly equal, spreading or converging, ribbed, partly coloured, leaves. Pet. 2, oblong, smaller than the calyx, ascending, or converging. Necz. a roundish or oblong Jip, entire, or mostly lobed, larger than the petals, dependent in front, betwixt the lower calyx-leaves ; extended, more or less, behind, in the form ofa tubular spur, containing the honey, and pervious at its origin. Anther of 2 oblong membra- nous cells, either close together, or widely separated, opening lengthwise in front, above the stigma, and de- positing their obovate, stalked, granulated, elastic masses of pollen, by their stalks, upon 1 or 2 glands, either naked or contained in one common hood, near that organ. Ger- men oblong, or nearly cylindrical, furrowed, spirally twisted. Style thick and short. Stigma a shining moist depression, in front, under, or between, the masses of pollen. Capsule oblong, spiral. Seeds very numerous, oval, each in a light chaffy tunic, extended at both ends. foots doubly tuberous, fleshy, either globular or palmate, whitish, internally viscid, with thick, fibrous, superior radi- cles ; each knob, or tuber, solitary, rarely in pairs, flowering but once, and that mostly in the season immediately subse- quent to its formation. Stem solitary, leafy at the base. Leaves chiefly radical, spreading, elliptic-oblong, or lan- ceolate, ribbed, accompanied at the bottom by a few membranous scales, like abortive leaves ; their upper sur- face often spotted with brown or black; under surface palest. #7. numerous, spiked, purple, crimson, or whitish; in some highly fragrant. Cal. ribbed, coloured, as are frequently the germen, common stalk, and bracteas. Na- tives of meadows, groves, or open chalky downs.