Scapose herbs, from a corm, produced from the one of the previous season by an offset, sometimes with coralloid fibres, the scape clothed with several sheathing scales. Leaf solitary, basal; developed in autumn or late summer, broad, petioled. Flowers in terminal racemes, the pedicels subtended by small bracts. Petals and sepals similar, narrow. Lip clawed, somewhat 3-ridged; spur none. Column free, the anther borne a little below its summit. Pollinia 4, lens-shaped, oblique. [Greek, meaning without a spur.]

A monotypic North American genus.

1. Aplectrum Hyemale (Muhl.) Torr. Adam-And-Eve. Putty-Root

Fig. 1412

Arethusa spicata Walt. Fl. Car. 222. 1788. Cymbidium hyemale Muhl.; Willd. Sp. PI. 4: 107.

1805. Aplectrum hyemale Torr. Compend. 322. 1826. Aplectrum spicatum B.S.P. Prel. Cat. N. Y. 51. 1888.

Not Arethusa spicata Walt. A. Shortii Rydb. in Britton, Man. 305. 1901.

Scape glabrous, 1°-2° high, bearing about 3 scales. Leaf arising from the conn, at the side of the scape, elliptic or ovate, 4'-6' long, 1/2'-3' Wide, usually lasting over winter; raceme 2'-4' long, loosely several-flowered; flowers dull yellowish brown mixed with purple, about 1' long, short-pedicelled; sepals and petals linear-lanceolate, about 1/2' long; lip shorter than the petals, obtuse, somewhat 3-lobed and undulate; column slightly curved, shorter than the lip; capsule oblong-ovoid, angled, about 10" long.

In woods and swamps, Ontario to Saskatchewan and Oregon, south to Georgia, Missouri and California. Several old corms usually remain attached to the latest one. May-June.