220 FLORA HISTORICA. 



nia, Glossodia, Pterostylis, Calcya, Calopogon, 

 Arethusa, Bletia, Geodorum, Calypso, Malaxis, 

 Isochilus, Corallorrhiza, Stelis, Ornithedium, Cryp- 

 tarrhena, Aerides, Limodorum, Pleurothallis, Oc- 

 tomaeria. 



To describe all the varieties of these singular 

 plants would require a separate volume, for which 

 purpose we have already made many drawings, as 

 the pencil can far better than the pen represent 

 their various forms and colours. We shall, how- 

 ever, not pass over the native tribes of the Orchi- 

 decE family, without most earnestly recommending 

 them to the notice all true admirers of flowers. 

 The idea that these plants will not bear cultivation 

 is as absurd as the old story of their springing from 

 the seed of the thrush and the blackbird. "We 

 have frequently transplanted several species of the 

 Orchis and the Ophrys into the garden with suc- 

 cess, and the early varieties of the former never 

 failed to draw attention by the beauty of their 

 spotted foliage, and the richness of their purple or 

 lilac colours. We have generally collected the 

 plants as soon as they have appeared above the 

 ground, taking them up with as much earth as 

 possible about their roots, and planting them in a 

 similar soil to that from which they were taken; 

 and where they have remained for several years 

 without our disturbing the ground, we have found 



