1924. Notes. 143 



The White Form of Orchis Fuchsii^ and Orchis O'Kellyi. 



It is with considerable diffidence that I venture to deal with this 

 subject, but I consider that it is best to draw the attention of botanists 

 to the probability that the Orchis O'Kellyi Druce 2 of Co. Clare is not 

 synonymous wdth the white-flowered forms of O. Fuchsii Druce, which 

 are widespread throughout Ireland and no doubt other places. The 

 discovery is not mine, but, as we might expect, that of Mr. R. A. Phillips, 



It is more than 10 years since Mr. Phillips told me he believed the 

 white orchid of the Burren hills in Co. Clare to be distinct. This 

 summer I spent the month of July in Co. Clare and had ample 

 opportunity of considering Mr. Phillips's suggestion. I had no hesitation 

 in coming to the same conclusion, though whether the distinctions between 

 O'Kellyi and ordinary white Fuchsii are specific differences is quite 

 another matter. At any rate I am convinced that Dr. Druce is mistaken 

 in referring to his own O'Kellyi the ordinary white Fuchsii which I sent 

 him from the Dublin district some two or three j'jears ago, and which 

 I understand — though 1 may be wrong — passes under the name of 

 O'Kellyi with most botanists. 



My first experience of O'Kellyi was last July, a few miles north of 

 Ballinalackan and just to the north of Poulsallagh. The stiff upright 

 growth of the plant, its glaucous leaves and stems and the strong sweet 

 scent of the flowers, as pointed out to me by Mr. Phillips, were at once 

 evident. But what attracted ray attention most was the fact that 

 though growing in the greatest profusion, there was no t^^pical Fuchsii 

 growing with it : and that it was just coming into flower, while a couple 

 of miles south of the spot, I had just seen an abundant growth of Fuchsii 

 (growing amidst the same plant associations), which was almost out 

 of flower — many spikes indeed were quite over. Closer inspection of 

 O'Kellyi at once drew my attention to the crinkled edge of the labellum, 

 which in shape was more that of ericetorum Linton, than of typical 

 Fuchsii, the lateral lobes being somewhat broad and rounded, though 

 there is considerable variation, of course. Moreover, I soon discovered 

 that all the plants had not perfectly white flowers ; a considerable 

 percentage having these flushed with a magenta-purple. At first these 

 suggested the possibility that they might be hybrids with Fuchsii ; but 

 even in the most highly coloured specimens, no trace of the normal Fuchsii 

 markings appeared on the petals. The conclusion I came to therefore 

 was that O' Kelly i is not an albino form in the true sense of the word 

 and in support of this I would add that the anther of O'Kellyi is not 

 pink as in white Fuchsii but a rich buff-yellow, a fact which was pointed 

 out to me by Mr. J. P. Brunker, to whom I had sent specimens of both 

 orchids from Co. Clare. The white Fuchsii I speak of was taken near 



1 I use this name to avoid ambiguity, as the controversy over the 

 name O. maculata L. still waxes strong. 



2 Originally discovered by Mr. P. B. O' Kelly of Bally vaughan, 

 Co, Clare, who named it 0. immaciilata, but did not describe it. 



