orchid ir> 



had been planted with the two bulbs were found 

 as already described, the one in a shrivelled state 

 from which the stem was decayed, and the other 

 become full and pushing out its stem. 



The name of Ophrys which is given to these 

 plants is derived from the Greek oQ^us, the eye- 

 brow, one species having been anciently used either 

 to blacken the eye-brows or to make them grow. 

 Its trivial name Muscifera is given to it from the 

 great resemblance which the flower bears to a fly, 

 and on this account it is made to represent error or 

 mistake, in floral language; indeed the blossoms 

 are so much like the insects we have mentioned, 

 that they may easily be mistaken one for the other. 

 The Spider Ophrys, Aranifera, is made the em- 

 blem of adroitness or skill. The Bee Ophrys, 

 Apifera, ought certainly to represent industry ; and 

 the Butterfly Orchis, Gymnadenia bifolia, flighti- 

 ness or gaiety : whilst the Lizard Orchis, Hircina, 

 and the Frog Orchis, Gymnadenia viridis, may 

 describe disgust, when used emblematically. 



The Fly Ophrys is generally in flower from the 

 end of May to the beginning of July : it has a 

 slender stem from twelve to eighteen inches in 

 height ; it is rarely seen with more than three 

 leaves, which sheath the stem at the base ; they are 

 of a pale green colour, and of a lanceolate shape. 

 The flowers expand in succession, beginning at the 



L5 



