——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.
The large and rounding leaf is 3 or 4 inches broad, and not greatly longer; it has many parallel ribs marking it underneath, a thick and leathery texture, and a smooth, very glossy surface. The color is a strong dark green, the underside being covered with a pale bloom. The two leaves are opposite each other, lying upon the ground.
The flower is rather noticeable in shape, for the lip is wide at the base, with a pointed and much curving tip; the upright petals are very sharp-pointed (like a scimetar), and their needle-like tips cross each other; the spur is a trifle longer than the foot-stem, and very slender; the broad upright part of the calyx behind the upper petals curves forward over them, and nearly meets the upward curve of the lip (thus increasing a resemblance to a pair of nippers); the side calyx-parts are oblong, with fine tips, which turn back. In color all parts of the flower are green, the lip tending somewhat toward yellow. The flowers are set, on twisted foot-stems, alternately, and a certain space apart, in a spike; they each spring from the angle of a sharp-pointed little leaf (or bract) which is longer than the foot-stems.
One of the most interesting features of this Orchid is the peculiar varnished appearance of the underside of the foot-leaf.