now known to be the objects of mere variety. The prin- 

 cipal difference we can detect between the two, lies in the 

 longer narrower and more tapered segments of the label of 

 the former. The shortness of the bractes in the latter, 

 we suspect from a review of samples in the Banksian 

 Herbarium, is occasional and will not hold good as a cha- 

 racter. If the outer petals are really confluent in militaris, 

 this might afford a valid distinction, but we believe these 

 will be found merely to converge, as in our plant, but 

 not to cohere. 



The drawing was taken from a sample remitted by Mr. 

 Swainson, with whom it had flowered at Elm Grove, in 

 February last. The root was imported by that gentleman 

 from Sicily, where the plant grows with a longer and more 

 luxuriant spike than in the present specimen, and is com- 

 mon on the mountains of Messina, but more rare on those of 

 Palermo. 



Tubers twin, ovately oblong, about the size of largish 

 acorns. Rootsheath white, membranous, nerved. Leaves 

 8-9, alternate, compassing, uprightly spreading, 3-5 inches 

 long, where widest about | of an inch across, smooth, 

 lineated, ovately and ligulately lanceolate, sharp, midrib 

 keeled, inner ones gradually longer sheathing farther more 

 upright curled, one or two of the lower ones and the upper 

 stem-one plain. Stem 5-9 inches high, pale green, round, 

 fluted. Spike short, dense, cylindric, conical; jloivers 

 white and flesh-coloured, scented. Bractes white, mem- 

 branous, broadly subulate long-pointed, as if awned, Hose- 

 , pressed to the germen than which they are twice shorter. 

 Gtrtnen half an inch long, roundedly hexagonal, equal to 

 the casque of the corolla, twisted. Corolta semiringent: 



3 outer petals converging into a casque, ovately lanceolate, 

 long-pointed, concave, 2 side ones obliquely erected, with 



4 deep red streaks, middle one 3-streaked : 2 inner petals 

 twice smaller, of the same colour, linearly oblong with a 

 short abrupt point, lapping together over the summit of the 

 column: label pale-pink, about y longer than the petals, 

 propendent, lamina or broad part nearly oblong, narrowly 

 nvecleft and threelobed, disk oblong slightly raised minutely 

 roughened, two side lobes linear and tapered narrow di- 

 vergent, middle lobe about §• longer trifid, side segments 

 of the same shape as the two lateral lobes, middle segment 



