180 NOTES OX BRITISH ORCHIDS. [July 



Bentham, and by some other botanists, as mere varieties of one 

 another; for it is said that intermediate gradations in the position 

 of the viscid discs occur. But we shall immediately see that the 

 two forms differ in a large number of other characters, not to 

 mention general aspect, and the stations inhabited, with which we 

 are not here concerned. . . . The viscid discs of the Lesser Butterfly 

 orchis are oval, and face each other. They stand far closer together 

 than in the last species ; so much so, that in the Ijud, when their 

 surfaces are cellular, they almost touch. . . . The caudicles of the 

 Lesser Butterfly orchis are relatively very much shorter than in the 

 other species ; the little pockets of pollen are shorter, whiter, and, in 

 a mature flower, separate much more readily from one another. 

 Lastly, the stigmatic surface is difierently shaped, being more plainly 

 tripartite, with two lateral prominences, situated beneath the viscid 

 discs. These prominences contract the mouth of the nectary, 

 making it sub-quadrangular. Hence I cannot doubt that the larger 

 and lesser Butterfly orchids are distinct species, marked by close 

 external similarity." That these statements are beyond dispute in 

 some specimens of Habcnaria hifolia I have often proved, but, at the 

 same time, in this district, where the orchid is found under such 

 variable circumstances, as I have before said, intermediate gradations 

 in the position of the viscid discs are by no means uncommon. 



In this orchid, as well as several others on which I have experi- 

 mented, strong growth may be induced by not allowing the seeds to 

 ripen on the plant ; indeed, I have frequently noted that in places 

 where this orchid is cut over when the flowers are on the decline, 

 the specimens are in a marked degree stronger than where left 

 undisturbed. In a little mountain meadow at a considerable eleva- 

 tion above sea-level, I was fortunate enough last season to meet in 

 with a remarkably distinct form of this orchid, having beautifully 

 variegated leaves. There were some half-a-dozen specimens, some 

 in flower, and others, younger, without, distributed over the field 

 and at some distance apart, which induces me to believe that the 

 variegation is constant, and may be reproduced in seedlings. I 

 transferred the largest plant to my garden, where it flowered well, 

 and offered quite a rich contrast to the ordinary form. The others 

 were left untouched for further observation and experiment. 



Although in H. hifolia will be found a most ornamental garden 

 plant, still to cultivate it successfully has puzzled not a few. When 

 transferred to the garden, it should be lifted with a good deep ball 

 of earth, as the long, carrot-shaped tuber strikes downward for 

 several inches, and if in the least injured permanent evils are the 

 result. I have also noticed that the fresh loam that has been intro- 

 duced with the plant entices numbers of vrire-worm, which soon 



