178 NOTES ON BRITISH ORCHIDS. [Jui 



generally, it is pretty abundant. It is an occupant of moist 

 meadowland, and usually found growing in ratlier warm maritime 

 districts. AVlien hastily examined, this orchid has a great resem- 

 blance to the green-leaved form of 0. mascula, but on closer scrutiny 

 very marked differences are observable. The plant when well grown 

 is taller than 0. mascula generally, more slender, and with narrower 

 leaves. The flowers are also of a richer colour, indeed in some 

 specimens they are almost of a deep red, and placed distant and 

 somewhat irregularly on the stem. From May to June may be 

 considered the flowering period of 0. laxiflora, much depending on 

 the situation in which it grows. On the ballast heaps near Hartle- 

 pool, where, as well as on the above islands, it has recently been 

 found in some quantity, the flowers are produced later than where 

 grown in the damp, sheltered meadows nearer sea-level. 



0. intacta (dense - spiked Orchis). — Tubers ovoid, entire. Stem seldom 

 exceeding 6 inches in height, but more commonly three-fourths that size, with a 

 dense spike of small pink or purplish flowers. Leaves broadly oblong, largest 

 at the base, decreasmg in size ujjwards, where they become nan-ower and more 

 acuminate. Bracts one-nerved, shorter than the ovary. Lip thi-ee-lobed, lateral 

 lobes short and hnear, middle one either entire or notched. 



This little plant, which has given a more than ordinary amount 

 of trouble in classification, having been referred to no less than six 

 genera, has recently been found in the county of Galway, Ireland. 

 As will be seen from the above description, it is a small-growing 

 species, the general habit and stature very nearly resembling the 

 smaU white Habenaria {H. alhida). Although rare in this country, 

 having, so far as is known, but one station, it is on the Continent 

 commonly distributed, occurring in quantities in various parts of 

 France, Northern Italy, and along the Mediterranean coast generally. 

 It also extends into North Africa and Asia Minor. 



Limestone pastures seem the favourite haunts of this rather incon- 

 spicuous orchid, although in various stations it is frequently found 

 growing in soil entirely destitute of lime — a peculiarity that is 

 shared in by various other species of orchis. The flowers, which 

 are produced in June in a dense spike, are more or less turned to 

 one side, and the leaves are often, though not always, spotted. 



By different botanists this species has been successively referred 

 to several of the sub-genera of Orchis, and by others raised to a 

 distinct genus under the name of Tinea, which has, however, been 

 again changed to Neotinea by Eeichenbach. 



Genus 2. — Rahaiaria. — Foliage and flowers similar to those of an Orchis^ but 

 the two anther cells instead of, as in Orchis, converging at the base, are separated 

 from each other by a wide space of connective membrane. 



Three species are included in the genus Habenaria, H. hifolia, H. alhida^ and 

 H. viridis. 



