*~ 



often extremely difficult to say whether the cells are parallel 

 or diverging at the base. ' 



Habenaria has its cells with their bases more or less 

 separated from the stigmatic processes j but so many degrees 

 of adhesion and separation occur, that this is by no means 

 a precise character. 



Platanthera is said to differ from Herminium in nothing 

 except the presence of a spur ; but Herminium monorchia 

 has a bag to its lip, almost as deep as that of the subject of 

 our plate; and yet the latter, with all the habit of Herminium, 

 and with no tangible differences in its structure, except that 

 its lip is a very little more bagged, is referred to Habenaria 

 or Platanthera. 



Taking these and many more circumstances into con- 

 sideration, it has appeared to us that it is absolutely neces- 

 sary to recast the genera of Ophrydeae with naked pollen- 

 glands, in the following manner : 



Habenaria. Loculi antheree basi producti, a processubus stizmatis 

 elongatis soluti. Labellum calcaratum. 



Platanthera. Loculi antheree basi divaricati, stigmati adnati. La- 

 bellum calcaratum, sepalis longius. 



Herminium. Loculi anthene basi divaricati. Labellum basi planum, 

 gibbosum v. saccatum. 



Gymnadenia. Loculi antheree basi approximati. Labellum calcaratum 

 (v. saccatum?). 



To which are to be added the very distinct Bonatea, 

 and the following remarkable genus in Dr. Wallich's Indian 

 Herbarium, with a horizontal anther, the bases of which 

 are exceedingly divaricated, and connected by a broad erect 

 membrane, opposite which is an erect fleshy body proceed- 

 ing from the mouth of the spur. 



Dip loch i los. Loculi antheree basi divaricati, stigmate dilatato bila- 

 biato soluti. Labellum calcaratum. 



Thus limited, the genus Herminium will consist of at 

 least the following species, to which will possibly have to 

 be added some Gymnadenias, when they shall have been 

 more completely examined. The Benthamia of M. Achille 

 Richard is clearly an Herminium, the pollen and anther of 

 which have been altogether misunderstood by that Botanist, 

 although they have been correctly figured by Du Vetit 

 Thouars. There also seems to be no difference of any 

 moment between Chamorchis and Herminium. 



