262 Mr. Babington on the Neottia gemmipara of Smith. 



Hon may fairly be referred to the genus Spiranthes (included in Neottia by 

 Smith), although differing from the other European species in some particu- 

 lars ; the most remarkable of these is the connection of all the sepals with 

 the two upper petals. In appearance it differs greatly, owing to its very 

 dense spike and the arrangement of the flowers in three spiral lines. The 

 idea of its forming a new genus, suggested by Mr. Sowerby from the exami- 

 nation of the dried specimen in the Smithian herbarium, is now proved to be 

 erroneous. 



It now becomes necessary to endeavour to determine the identity or other- 

 wise of Smith's N. gemmipara with the published species included in the 

 genus Spiranthes ; and for the opportunity of doing this I have to acknow- 

 ledge my great obligations to Sir W. J. Hooker, who most kindly allowed me 

 free access to his extensive herbarium. 



In his ' Genera and Species of Orchideous Plants' Dr. Lindley points out the 

 affinity of this plant with the Sp. Romanzqffiana, Cham., from which it is now 

 found to differ by its much shorter bracts ; its blunt, linear and equally broad 

 sepals ; and its longer spathulate lip. If, however, we examine another allied 

 species, the Sp. cernua, Rich. {Ophrys cernua, L.), we find a plant agreeing 

 most exactly with the Irish N. gemmipara ; indeed, after a careful examination 

 of Drummond's Rocky Mountain specimens of Sp. cernua, I am unable to 

 detect the slightest difference. Smith's name must therefore become a syno- 

 nym. I venture to offer the following specific character for the species. 



Spiranthes cernua, Rich. ; tuberibus elongato-cylindricis, foliis radicalibus 

 lineari-lanceolatis vaginantibus : exteriori amplexicaule ; caulinis trian- 

 gulari-lanceolatis vaginantibus, bracteis floribus brevioribus, spica densa, 

 floribus trifariis, sepalis petalisque sequalibus obtusis cohserentibus ; la- 

 bello oblongo medio nonnihil constricto apice rotundato crenato. 



Ophrys cernua, L. Sp. PI. 1340. 



Neottia gemmipara, Sm. Engl. Flor. iv. p. 36. 



Spiranthes cernua et Sp. gemmipara, Lindl. Gen. et Sp. Orch. 467. 



Hab. America Borealis e Terra Nova ad Fort Vancouver usque; etiam apud Bearhaven in 

 Co. Cork Hibermae, florens in Augusto Septembrique. 



By the favour of the Rev. William Hincks I am enabled to give the follow- 



