Rootstock short, with numerous fleshy roots. Stem scape-like, with 2 large leaves at the base. Flowers in a short loose spike, subtended by large bracts. Sepals united above, forming a hood. Petals connivent, somewhat adnate to the sepals. Lip wavy, produced into a spur. Column short, scarcely extending beyond the base of the lip. Anther 2-celled, its sacs divergent; pollinia granulose, 1 large mass in each sac, with a slender caudicle. Glands enclosed in a pouch. [Greek, referring to the hood-like united sepals.].

A monotypic genus of North America.

1. Galeorchis Spectabilis (L.) Rydb. Showy Orchis

Fig. 1361

Orchis spectabilis L. Sp. PI. 943. 1753.

Galeorchis spectabilis Rydb. in Britton, Man. 292. 1901.

Stems 4'-12' high, thick, fleshy, 5-angled. Leaves 2, near the base of the stem, with 1 or 2 scales below them, obovate, sometimes 8' long and 4' wide, but usually smaller, clammy to the touch; spike 3-6-flowered; flowers about 1' long, violet-purple mixed with lighter purple and white; bracts folia-ceous, sheathing the ovaries; sepals united in an arching galea; petals connivent under the sepals, more or less attached to them; lip whitish, divergent, entire, about as long as the petals; spur obtuse, about 8" long; column violet on the back; capsule about 1' long, strongly angled.

In rich woods, New Brunswick to Ontario, Dakota, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri and Nebraska. Ascends to 4000 ft. in Virginia. Purple, gay- or spring-orchis. April-June.