45G MRS. M. E. BAKBER O^' LIPARIS BOWKERI. 



where they have never failed to hlossom profusely ; and yet, 

 strange to say, they have produced no seed, each hlossom fadmg 

 away and falling to the ground with its pollinia still beneath the 

 operculum upon the apex of the column ; and as it is impossible 

 for the fertilization of this orchid to take place excepting through 

 the agency of insects, I have been led to the conclusion tliat the 

 little creature to whose care the fertilization of i. BoivTi^eri is 

 entrusted is not an inhabitant of our neighbourhood, or its office 

 would not thus have been neglected. 



The structure oi JL. BowJceri is peculiar, and wonderfully 

 adapted to suit the requirements of the plant. The plants grow in 

 bunches, as do the various species of EulopTiia, JLissocJiihcs, &c., 

 and have handsome, light-green, and broadly ovate undulated 

 leaves ; the scape, which rises about six inches, usually bears 

 from 4 to 5 blossoms of a light-green colour, slightly shaded with 

 brown; the back sepal, like the petals (see fig. 2), is linear, and 

 subulate ; the lateral sepals (see fig. 5), which are broadly falcate, 

 are turned towards, and slightly beneath, the limb of the labellum 

 (see fig. 1) ; the petals (like the back sepal) are linear (see 

 fig. 2) and subulate, with their points bent inwards, inclining 

 towards the centre of the flower, and forming, together with the 

 back sepal, a protection around the apex of the column, as if it 

 were to guard against the approach of insects to the nectary by all 

 other ways excepting that of the labellum; the column (see fig. 

 1), which is somewhat terete and partly winged near the apex, 

 stands out over the nectary in the centre of the flower ; and in two 

 small cavities upon its apex (?ee fig. 7) are placed the waxy pol- 

 linia, neatly covered by an operculum or lid, which is articulated 

 with the upper part of the column (see fig. 7) ; beneath this pro- 

 jecting column, and below the anthers, is placed the stigmatic sur- 

 face. The claw of the labellum is concave, and strongly arched 

 upwards and towards the stigmatic tissue, thence descending 

 and forming, together with the base of the column, the honey- 

 coloured nectary. Attached to this claw {^ee fig. 3) is the spread- 

 ing, undulate, and ovate limb standing out in front, and nearly 

 resembling the iron step of a carriage, forming a tempting perch 

 or landing-place for an insect in search of food. 



Tlie nectary, though apparently glistening and of a honey-colour, 

 produces no nectar. I have examined many, and invariably found 

 them empty ! 



Tlie various species of our Lepidoptera would, I imagine, be 

 of no avail in the fertilization of i. BoicJceri ; the slender and 



