Plats XL1V. 



OKCHIS FOLIOSA. 



Orchis foUosa. Solan<t<a>s mss. in Mm. Jlrit. Zom primUia Flora Madcrmm, p. 



13. Botanical Segu/ar, /. 1701. Lindle;, Genera and Specie, of Orchidaceous 

 plants, p. 264, 



Although contrary to tJ.o practice I have hitherto observed, of admitting into the present work 

 no plant* that have been figured elsewhere, 1 trust to be excitant for introducing (he subject of ihe 

 present plate a, a most noble example of die beauty of plant* nearly approaching to the Orchises of 

 our own pastures, 



This specie* is not uncommon in our gardens, and is treated successfully as a greenhouse plant. 

 It is i. nntire of Madeira, where, according to die Rev. Mr. Lowe, it inhabits woods and thicket*. It 

 is usually no handsomer than the wild O. lalifolia, to which it in fact approaches very nearly ; but 

 under skilful management it grows three fret high, and produces such magnificent* pyramids of 

 (lowers m are now represented from the conservatory of William Wells. Esq. of Hedlcaf. I possess 

 a wild specimen from Madeira, for which I am indebted to Dr. Leman. but it bears no kind of 

 comparison Ibr vigour with rli.it before u*. 



It grows further to the southward than any specie* of Orchis properly so called, with die 

 exception of Orchis Canadensis, which occurs in the Canaries, on die rocky rid«cs, called Los 

 Organos. above the valley of Oroiava, and is known by its shorter bracts, thicker spur, and truncate 

 lip. 



Fig. I. gives a view of the general appearance of die plaut: 2. shows the lip. column and spur. 



