Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-09
For THE EVENING STAR
ORCHIDS AND THEIR HABITS.
Allurerncnfs Held Out to Insects-HOW
The Race ia Perpetuated.
BY RALPH 8. TARR.

b1 ,.
To most people the name orchid is associated
with the heat and luXuriant vegetation of tropic
climes and very few are aware that in eastern
United States there are over fifty species be-
longing TO this group. Some are small and in
conspicuous, others have the beautiful colors,
shapes and odors of tropical orchids, and are
possessed of all their Interesting habits.
Unless orchids were by some means rendered
attractive to insects they would be cursed with
perpetual sterlity, and the large and beautiful
group would disappear from the face Of the
earth. All notifications in form and color are
directed towards attracting insects, and the
better one understands them the more they
seem like human beings than forms of vegeta-
ton. Each part of the flower has its share in
the mutual labor; the spots and fringes, sflken
curtain and waving banner. strong or subtitle
odors, are not mere adOrnments, but necessary
to the fertility of the plant and the perpetuation
structure, plots and devices to gain their ends,
that are wonderful to think of.
Many species are brilliant and SNOWY with
pleasant odor, but some are dull and incon-
spicuOus, being in order to attract the tiny
beetles that crawl on the ground and are averse
for their object TO attract butterflies and bees,
and no pains are spared in bringing this about.
odd and shape am
has once visited flower, a locality where
lis favorlte flower grows, u sort OF instinct will
always guide it back again whenever 1t wishes
togo. no matter how far the flower may be
from it's home, Bees have been known to fly
miles TO a flower and back again several times
a day aad never make Il mistake. Flying to
the flower and intent on its sweets, IL alights
on the lip, and creeping in begins
SLIPPING THE HONEY.
A pathway of honey passes into the nectary
and following this the insect is soon drinking
large draughts OF its favorite food. The anther,
which contains the pollen, has q lid which
opens outward When the insect goes into the
nectary he strikes this lid but only presses it
down more tightly, and then his back rubs
against the stigma. After eating all he desires,
the insect proceeds to back out, and in doing so
the lid of the anther Is opened and the pollen
masses adhere 10 the front part of the insects
head. The arrangement is so perfect that there
is no possibility of an accident. Just beneath
the anfher there is patch of hair like bristles,
and the insect, becoming entangled in these,
naturally raises himself and thus Is certain to
strike the anther lid. After the insect has
gone the anther fiys back into place again, so
that If only a portion OF the pollen Is gone the
trap is set for the next insect visitor.
The bee flies to another flower, and, striking
with the top IF his head plump against the
STICKY, stigmatic surface, leaves the pollen
glued to il. Just as sOon,as the stigma is fertl-
lied and the pollen removed the flower dies.
for its work is com pleted, and it gives place to
the seed which has begun to form.
This is but one OF many arrangements to be
seen in our common orchids. The 1ady's slipper
has large slit in the top through which insects
naturally enter but when they attempt to es-
cape the same way they find difficulties in the
way: There mere are, however two small outlets,
sectS find the exit very easy, provided they are
strong enough to push aside the small curtains
they must rub against the anther and carry
pollen with them. The entrance to the flower
is guarded by broad stigmatic surface against
which the insect must surely strike when he
enters.
SMALL FLOWERS FOR LITTLE INSECTS.
Many orchids experience much inconvenience
from small insects, which ievour the nectar
without returning the favor by aiding in fer
tilization. Some species have overcome this
difficulty. Two distinct ways of doing it have
been adopted. One group produces a very small
Hover, having n minute nectary, with the
stigma and anther on its upper surface. 1t Is
part without u load of pollen or enter without
striking the stigmatic surface. The other group
has its nectar at the end of long and narrow
tube, so that no insect without very long pro-
boscis can get at the honey. This excludes all
insects except moths and butterflies.
AS one rambles in the woods in search of the
wonders and beauties of nature that abound on
every side, there Is no better place to stop and
reflect than beside some one OF our pretty
orchids. The beautiful pink lady's slipper in
the grove of beech trees, or arethusa i'll its
swampy bower. or calypso in its home beneath
the pine tree, all have their lesson to teach US.
What can cause plant to know that certain
color or odor is agreeable to an insect: And
having found this out, by what means can 1t set
about to change and adapt itself to circum-
stances? 1t has no brain and man cannot even
explain the changes by referring them to in
st1nct, which is SO convenient in explaining
wonders OF animal life.
THE LEGEND OF CALYPSO
There is a very pretty legend connected with
the beautiful Calypso. about which Prot. Baily,
of Providence, has written some verses. They
are:
Calypso goddess of an ancient time
q learn 1t not from Grecian rhyme,
Aid yet the story can vouch Is true),
Beneath a pine tree lost her dainty shoe.
No workmanship of mortal can compare
With what's exhibited in beauty there;
And looking al the treasure meath The tree
The goddess Self / almost hope TO
The tints of purple and the texture fine
The curves of beauty seen in every line,
With fringes exquisite of golden hue
Perfect the wonders Of the fairy shoe.
The goddess surely must have been I'm haste
Like Daphne fleeing when Apollo chased,
And leaving here slipper by the way,
Intends to mud IL on another day.
But will she come 10 seek II here noo
The day Is leng. hening, but cannotg go
Until see her bring the absent mate
Oftnis rare beauty though the time is late.
watch, but still no classic form see
Naught but the slipper meath the forest tree
A nj so. for fear of some purlOnng elf,
The precious relic secure myself"