Page:On the Various Contrivances by Which British and Foreign Orchids are Fertilised by Insects, and on the Good Effects of Intercrossing.djvu/34

 the affinity of Goodyera to Epipactis. Goodyera probably shows us the state of the organs of fructification in a large group of Orchids, now mostly extinct, but the parents of many living descendants.

Spiranthes autumnalis.

This Orchid, with its pretty name of Ladies'-tresses, presents some interesting peculiarities. The rostellum is a long, thin, flat, projection, joined by sloping shoulders to the summit of the stigma. In the middle of the rostellum a narrow vertical brown object (Fig. XVI., C) may be seen, bordered on each side and covered by transparent membrane. This brown object I will call "the boat-formed disc." It forms the middle portion of the posterior surface of the rostellum, and consists of a narrow strip of exterior membrane in a modified condition. Its summit (Fig. E) is pointed, its lower end rounded, and it is slightly bowed, so as altogether to resemble a boat or canoe. It is rather more than 4/100 of an inch in length, and less than 1/100 in breadth. It is nearly rigid, and appears fibrous, but is really formed of elongated and thickened cells, partially confluent.

This boat, standing vertically up on its stem, is filled with thick, milky, extremely adhesive fluid, which, when exposed to the air, rapidly tums brown, and in about one minute sets quite hard. An object is well glued to the boat in four or five seconds, and when the cement is dry the attachment is wonderfully strong.