The flower is large and beautiful. The lower petal, or lip, is widely spreading and deeply 3-cleft with a fine fringed margin, and a long and slender, curving spur; the other petals are sharp-pointed, their outer margins notched; two of the calyx-parts flare like wings at either side, while the third part is erect between the upper petals; the texture is very fine, and delicate. The color is an exquisite pale lilac, the lip being slightly darker, and fading to a pure waxen white at the throat; the spur is pale pink, or nearly white. The flowers, on fine, twisted and curved, green foot-stems, are arranged alternately, and close together, in a large feathery spire, each foot-stem springing from the angle of a small leaf or bract. The blossoms are slightly odorous, as though no gift had been refused to this lovely Orchid. Not least among its delightsome qualities is the rich toned green of its leaf, contrasting with the fairy lightness of its blossoming spire. [Illustration: EARLY PURPLE FRINGED ORCHID: Habenaria fimbriata.] *Small Purple Fringed Orchid.* _Habenaria psycodes._ Found by roadside springs, or in low damp meadows, during July and August. The stalk is sparingly leafy, round and smooth, and varies in height from 1 to 8 feet; light green in color. The long leaf is sharp-pointed at the tip, thin but tough in texture, and smooth; in color yellow-green, not dark. The leaves are few in number, clasping, and near the top somewhat sheath-like; they are placed alternately. The flower is small; the lip fan-shaped, 3-cleft, and fringed; the other petals erect and fringy; the slender spur is curving, and longer than the foot-stem; the calyx-parts are small and rounded, one being erect and the two others spreading at the sides. The texture is fine, and the color is a clear light lilac, the spur being purplish-green. The curious little foot-stem looks like a rolled leaf; it is green, or slightly tinted pink. The flowers are placed in a terminal spire, springing from the angles of small pale green leaves (bracts). Green at first, the lilac flush overspreads the buds as they swell before the blossoms expand. It is an odorous flower, and fortunately not uncommon. The spur is more curving than that of the Large Purple Fringed, and the whole plant is more slender and less perfect in its details, yet it is sufficiently like its early sister to be taken for a belated specimen of the _fimbriata_ when first espied amongst the tall grasses. [Illustration: SMALL PURPLE FRINGED ORCHID: H. psycodes.] *----* _Habenaria Hookeri._ Found along swamps, or in woods, in June. The angular, somewhat twisted, green flower-stem rises from between two leaves, to the height of 8 or 12 inches.