252 NOTES ON BPdTISH ORCHIDS. [Aug. 



NOTES ON BRITISH ORCHIDS. 



BY A. D, WEBSTER. 



No. IV. 



Genus 4. — Opltrys. — Habit and foliage of Orchis, but the flowers are destitute of 

 a spur. Lip perpendicular, usually convex, and resembling more or less the body 

 of an insect. Ovary not twisted. 



Three species are usually included in this genus — 0. apifera, 0. aranifcra, and 

 0. iimscifera. 



0. apifera (bee Ophrys). — Tubers entire, roundish. Stem about a foot in height, 

 stout, with a few lanceolate, green leaves near the base. Flowers few in number, 

 from three to six, placed rather loosely on the stem, large and conspicuous. 

 Sepals ovate ; petals small, linear, oblong, and somewhat downy. Lip prominent, 

 convex, with a terminal appendage, and of a dark, velvety brown variously marked 

 wath yellowish lines and spots. 



This plant is perhaps the most ornamental of the genus, and 

 derives its popular name from the form and hairiness of the lip, 

 which not inaptly resembles a bee. In various parts of England it 

 is abundant, and also extends into Wales and Ireland, but has not 

 been recorded from Scotland. Here, in Carnarvonshire, this pretty- 

 plant is found in some quantity, notably near Penmaenmawr, in the 

 woods at Bodnant Hall, and in one station near Bangor. It is a 

 native of mountain meadows, pastures, and even copses, and is 

 usually found growing in a chalky or calcareous soil, though in this 

 district it is found in the stift'est clay, usually on the limestone 

 formation. Most of the species of Ophrys are difficult to cultivate, 

 and require special care and trouble in planting, being naturally 

 somewhat delicate. By imitating as nearly as possible the con- 

 ditions under which they are found naturally, I have succeeded in 

 flov/eriug the present species from year to year ; but under such 

 circumstances, I have never known it to increase. 



It flowers in June or July, but I have occasionally found 

 specimens fully developed during May. 



0. aranifera (spider Ophrys). — Tubers ovoid. Foliage more glaucous than in 

 0. apifera, larger, and not so erect. Sepals inside of a yellowish green ; petals 

 oblong. Lip convex, without an appendage, of a dull uniform brown and marked 

 with paler spots or parallel lines on the surface. Anth^- beak not hooked, the 

 reverse of this being the case in 0. apifera. 



Although in size and general appearance greatly resembling 

 0. apifera, still, as will be seen from the above description, these two 

 species differ in many remarkable points. From the broad lip which 

 is marked with different shades of brown, the fancied resemblance to 

 a spider is derived. An unerring point of difference between these 



