DR. M. T. MASTERS ON OPHRYS ARANIFERA. 207 
On a Peloria and Semidouble ZA Ophrys aranifera, Huds. 
By MaxwErr T. Masters, M.D., F.L.S. 
[ Read June 16, 1864.] 
Tur flower, an account of which I now beg leave to lay before the 
Society, has a special interest, inasmuch as it presents (so far aa I 
have been able to ascertain) a larger number of distinct parts, 
and a nearer approach to the typical form of Orchis flower than 
any yet discovered. It formed one of a series recently gathered 
in the vicinity of Folkestone, and all of which differed more or less 
from the ordinary condition. The present one is seleeted for 
comment as being the most perfect and complete of the whole, 
and eombines in itself most of the peculiarities of structure met 
with in the other flowers, together with others special to itself. 
The flower in question was one of a cluster of three, whieh exhi- 
bited an inerease in the number of the stamens, &e.; this, the 
lowermost of the group, had, as may be seen from the diagram 
accompanying this note, three sepals, five petals, four columns, 
and a two-celled inferior ovary, with four parietal placentas On 
closer inspection it was found that the three sepals were not at 
all different from those of the normal flower. The three petals 
next in succession were also, in form and position, in their ordinary 
state. In colour, however, the two upper lateral petals differed 
from what is customary, in having the same purplish-brown tint 
Ophrys aranifera. 
8. 
S.S.S. Sepals. P.P. Petals. L. Labellum. 
o.s. Outer stamens, the two lateral ones petaloid, one bearing half an anther. 
i.s. Inner stamens. O. Ovary. 
which characterizes the lip. Within these petals, at the upper 
part of the flower, there was the ordinary column, and at the 
LINN. PROC.—BOTANY, VOL. VIII. R 
