Tab. 5712. 



OPHEYS insectifera; var. aranifera. 



Spider Ophrys. 



Nat. Ord. Orchid^e. — Gynaxdria Moxandria. 



Gen. Char. Sepala patentia, supremo fornicato v. galeato. Petala minora, 

 patentia, linearia oblonga v. cordata. Lalellum columnae basi insertum, 

 sessile, rigidum, planiusculum v. marginibus recurvis, carinatum v. lobatum. 

 Columna brevis, aptera, antice fissa, 2-bursiculata. Anthera vertical's, 

 mutica; pollinia caudiculis rectis, glandulis distinctis intra bursiculis re- 

 conditis. — Herbae in Europa media et australi indigents, habitu Orchidis. 

 Flores laxe spicati, labello varie picto. Fndl. 



Ophrys insectifera; sepalis oblongis lineari-oblongisve, petalis consimi- 

 libus v. subcordatis multo minoribus, labello subquadrato-oblongo 

 obscure lobato, columna rostrata. 



Ophrys insectifera. Linn. Sp. PI. vol. 2, 1343 (1765). Moggridge, Contri- 

 butions to the Flora of Mentone, pi. 43. 



Var. aranifera ; petalis glabris plants viridibus, labello integro v. apice 

 emarginato. 



Opurys insectifera, var. 8. Linn. Sp. PI. I.e. 



Ophrys aranifera. Huds. Fl. Angl. p. 392. Curt. Fl Lond. ed. 2. /. 07. 



Ophrys aranifera, var. apiculata. Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ. t. 465./ 2, 3. 



The receipt of a beautiful set of Ophrys bulbs, collected 

 by our indefatigable correspondent T. Moggridge, Esq.. in 

 the neighbourhood of Mentone, together with the advancing 

 taste for the cultivation of terrestrial and especially spring- 

 flowering Orchids, has induced me to figure what Linnaeus 

 considered as the typical form of that group of Ophrys which 

 includes the lesser and common Spider, the Bee, and the 

 Drone, amongst British Orchids, and several other foreign 

 ones, and which have been distinguished as good species by 

 most succeeding authors. Mr. Moggridge has figured a 

 series of these forms in his charming work, 'Contributions 

 to the Flora of Mentone,' and, after carefully studying the 

 structure and habits of an enormous series of specimens in a 

 living state, and in a locality where they abound, he has 



nrm i ST , 1868. 



