=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. _New England Range_—Maine, common; New Hampshire, common; Vermont, common; Massachusetts, frequent; Rhode Island, common; Connecticut, common. [Illustration: =The Beautiful Arethusa.= (_Arethusa bulbosa_.) Showing the structural parts of the flower, the single leaf, and bulbous root.] VI Gyrostachys Persoon, 1807 (_Spiranthes_ L. C. Richard, 1818) LADIES’ TRESSES The generic name, _Gyrostachys_, refers to the twisting spikes, which resemble a “coil,” or “curl,” from which originated the common name of Ladies’ Tresses. Erect spiked racemes of twisting flowers. =Anther= 1. =Labellum= clawed, concave, erect, embracing the column. =Sepals= free, coherent at top with petals, forming a galea. =Flowers= small, spurless, white or greenish, in rows. =Anther= without a lid, situated back of column. =Pollinia= 2, 1 in each anther-sac, powdery. =Fragrance= delicate. =Stem= leafy, bracted above basal leaves. =Leaves= linear, save in two species—_G. simplex_ and _G. gracilis_, in which they are round, oblong, and basal. =Roots= fleshy-fibrous, or tuberous. Seed-capsule erect and oblong. _Continental Range_—Common in pasture-land and meadow boglands; from Alaska, southward to Florida; westward to the Pacific coast. There are 80 or more species of this genus distributed throughout the tropical and temperate regions of the world. North American species north of Mexico 19-20 New England species 6 Hoosac Valley species 5-6 New England species: 1. _G. Romanzoffiana_ (Chamisso), MacMillan, 1828-1892. 2. _G. plantaginea_ (Rafinesque), Britton, 1818-1896. 3. _G. ochroleuca_ Rydberg, 1901. 4. _G. cernua_ (Linnæus), Kuntze, 1753-1891. 5. _G. simplex_ (A. Gray), Kuntze, 1867-1891. 6. _G. gracilis_ (Bigelow), Kuntze, 1824-1891. 1.—GYROSTACHYS ROMANZOFFIANA (Chamisso), MacMillan, 1828-1892 HOODED LADIES’ TRESSES The specific name, _Romanzoffiana_, refers to the species being named in honor of Count Romanzov, a Russian nobleman. Rather conspicuous bogland orchid, with 1-6 tuberous roots. July 15th-August 27th-September 8th.