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VI. Observations on the Orchis mil Far of Linneus. By Mr. Eg E. 
Bicheno, F.L.S. 
Read June 20, 1815. 
Tue very near affinity which orchideous plants have to each 
other has rendered their separation into genera and species a mat- 
ter of great difficulty. Scarcely any tribe, however, has been 
more effectually changed,.or received greater improvements since 
the time of Linnæus, than this; and in support of the fact, we need 
only refer to the labours of Swartz in Sweden, and of Brown in 
our own country. No species required an elucidation more than 
the Orchis militaris ; for Linn:us has introduced so many varieties, 
and they are so badly supported by synonyms, that it is difficult, 
sometimes impossible, to make out what he means. It is to be 
feared that English botanists in general have not understood 
them, and that they have still further perplexed the subject. My 
object, therefore, on the present occasion is to point out what I 
conceive to be the English species, which have been called, since 
the time of Linnzus, by the name of Orchis militaris. Of these 
there are three: the Orchis fusca of Curtis; the Orchis militaris of 
English Botany, vol. xxvii. t. 1873; and the Orchis tephrosanthos of 
Willdenow and Swartz. The synonyms which I am enabled to as- 
certain are not numerous, because I am situated far from the rich 
libraries of the metropolis; but even if I could command them, 
I believe I should not be disposed to quote largely, since it is 
almost impossible to identify these plants in the old authors, un- 
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