from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Orchis \Or"chis\, prop. n.; pl. {Orchises}. [L., fr. Gr. ? a
testicle, the orchis; -- so called from its tubers.]
[1913 Webster]
1. (Bot.) A genus of endogenous plants growing in the North
Temperate zone, and consisting of about eighty species.
They are perennial herbs growing from a tuber (beside
which is usually found the last year's tuber also), and
are valued for their showy flowers. See {Orchidaceous}.
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2. (Bot.) Any plant of the same family with the orchis; an
orchid.
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Note: The common names, such as {bee orchis}, {fly orchis},
{butterfly orchis}, etc., allude to the peculiar form
of the flower.
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