134 NOTES ON BRITISH ORCHIDS. [June 



The commonly-accepted name of 0. morio, the buffoon orchis, is 

 in my opinion misapplied, the Greek word fiopov, a mulberry, being 

 equally as applicable as ixwpo^, a fool, and there is certainly some 

 sense in calling it the mulberry-coloured Orchis. In Gerard's 

 Herhal (p. 208), where a whole chapter is devoted to this orchid, 

 the flowers are described as being " in shape like a fool's hood or 

 cock's combe, wide open or gaping before, and as it were crested 

 above with certaine eaves standing up by every side, and a small 

 taile or spur hanging downe." This description is, however, rather 

 " far-fetched," and might in the same way be applied to most species 

 of Orchis. 



0. morio is, in company with 0. mascula, called king's fingers, as 

 will be seen on referring to Miss Baker's Northamptonsliirc Wm^ds 

 and Phrases. 



In some of the southern English counties this orchid is pretty 

 abundant ; but not so in Wales, at least the northern parts, although 

 I have occasionally come across specimens, but never in quantity, in 

 the meadows and downs of Carnarvonshire. It decreases in quantity 

 as we approach north, until in Scotland it is, I believe, entirely 

 wanting. 



O.conopsea (fragrant Orchis).- — Tubers palmate as in 0. macidata, bnt nsnally 

 smaller m size. Stem 12 to 20 inches in length, with narrow lanceolate, 

 unspotted leaves. Flowers mauve-coloured, but subject to variation, very fragrant, 

 and arranged in an oblong or cylindrical spike. Lip divided into three entire, 

 equal-sized lobes. Spur cylindrical, very slender, and about double the length of 

 the ovary. 



The beautiful mauve-coloured and deliciously-scented flowers, as 

 well as long slender spur, of this orchid are strikingly remarkable, 

 and at once render identity an easy task. It is usually found in 

 upland heaths and pastures, growing in rather dry loamy soil, but is 

 strangely uncertain as regards choice of soil and situation ; for it is 

 occasionally found in damp marshy ground or morasses where one 

 can hardly tread, and there attaining a size and luxuriance rarely 

 equalled on the drier hillsides. I have frequently met with this 

 orchid in mountain meadows or pasture land, growing on the raised 

 mounds of soil that had been thrown up when surface-draining the 

 land. Where found it is usually pretty abundant, but local in its 

 distribution, and seems to prefer a calcareous soil. The whole plant 

 is from 12 to 18 and sometimes as much as 24 inches in length; 

 but the latter height is rather unusual, and only attained under 

 very favourable circumstances. As a garden plant, it is very 

 desirable, and may be easily grown in a mixture of loam and lime 

 rubbish ; but the latter is not really necessary for the successful 

 cultivation of this somewhat variable plant, for by far the finest 



