The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-06-03
rae onouIDs or s.ArrLE.
Several Dsaatifai Species - Bs 1euAd
In the Weeds.

several 0oAuttful Species - - 8ouAo
In the Weeds.
Tho February number of Scri6msr's Mayo
sias contains . richly iliustrAtsd article
upon orchid& The author describes them
principally from the florists standpoint,
and his style 10 almost - charming and bril-
liant ~ the strange flowers he illustrates.
From any point Of view the orchid family
10 interesting and distinct from all others,
and whoever commences 70 study IL will
BE- in danger for . while Of neglscting
everything slss, provided he can fiud the
plants.
OF course the large and brilliant flowers
Of greenhouse orchids are not to b. looked
for In our cold forests, yet some Of their
relatives may be. The family 10 . large
one And well distributed over the world.
The greater number of species grows in the
tropics, yet ono or two are even found In
the Arctic some. About 5000 species are
known. Of which six or seven ct least can
b found in Seattle.
Our native species are not very striking
In appearance, but . little examination
will bxtng out their peculiar structure and
habits. The best known Of them sil In
Calypso borsalis. The last name indicates
its northern home and must belong to
our plant, bscauss there 10 only one
Calypso. 1t 10 the earliest and handsom-
est Of our orchids, although IL has but one
broad leaf and single purple flower hang
ing from the top Of its stalk. IL grows on
moist ground In the woods and may have
been rather abundant . few years ago. but
IL 10 too handsome TO live in peace on the
outskirss Of . city and 10 altogether too
wild to be civilized. II flowers in May.
One Of the commonest and most easily
recognized species 10 Goodyera Msnsiesii
tRsttlesnaks Piantain) with its broad.
thiekish leaves notified with white. Iytnr
close 10 the ground. 1t sends up . flower
stalk about . foot high bearing from
twenty TO thirty white flowers In . spike.
The flowers appear almost to b in one
piscs becsuss the edges OF the petals all
grow together. The lower petal, - in the
whole family. 10 different from the rest
and contains the nectar.
The only other orchid which IL at all
common Is . species Of Habenar,a fRsin
orchidl Its method Of fertilization IN
very obvious and remarkable. The r.sns
has two or three marrow leaves near the
ground. which soon withsr, but IL NAV
easily b recognized BY il slender spike.
one or two feet In height, Of many email
greenish flowers each With slender vh,ts
spur more than twice ~ long a the pod.
partly filled with the grssnish nectar. On
locking into ihe center of the flower one
may see with glass, or even without one.
two little round disks standing out from
the upper side Of tho throat Each stick
disk 10 attached by . short stem 20 . MAS
of pollen. An insect coming 20 dinner 10
too aungry 10 notice sigma OF fresh painsH
and while he 10 taking his nectar
the disks are glued fast 10 his
head Then he ases away dragging
the masses Of pollen out Of tieir pockets
and carries them TO other flowers 20 fer
tssise them AID cause them 20 ripsn PER
feet sseds. Ii no insect is at hand 20 70
sArough this performances sust when the
observer wants 10 - IL. he can push the
poins Of pencil into the flower and the
Sisks wiis be attached to that. Sueh an
explanation Of the structure of the flower
no aoaes appears fancsfni 10 any one who
has not observed OF shoeghs much about
IL MI Darwin has puesishsd book On
the fsrtisirasion Of orchids containing his
eessrvasaeas Of large nnnesr of species.