366 NOTES ON BRITISH ORCHIDS. [Oct. 



Genus 13. — Epipogium. — A leafless saprophyte like Corallorfdza, but distin- 

 guished from tliat genus by the spurred flower. Ovaiy not twisted. 



There is one species E. Gmelini. 



E. Gmelini or E. aphijUum (leafless Epiporfiv.ni). — Rootstock not \inlike that 

 of CoraUorhiza, but usually longer and stouter. Flower-stem 4 to 8 inches in 

 height, jointed near the base, and with three or four rather large pendulous 

 flowers of a pale yellowish hue. Sepals and j^etals narrow lanceolate, margins 

 involute. Lip heart-shaped, superior, and distinctly marked with small dots on 

 the surfa,ce. Spur short, thick, and projecting undei-neath the lip. 



This is one of our rarest native plants, having only been 

 recorded from one station in Herefordshire. On the Continent it 

 is, however, widely distributed but very scarce, usually only a few 

 plants occurring in the same locality. It grows amongst rotten 

 leaves and decayed wood, usually in shady situations amongst trees 

 and in thickets. The peculiar colour of the plant, combined with 

 its small stature and leafless formation, renders it at all times 

 difficult to recognise. It flowers in August. 



Genus 14. — Epipactis. — Eootstock creeping. Stem leafy with purple, brown, or 

 whitish flowers in a raceme. Sepals and petals spreading, the latter shorter than 

 the sepals, but otherwise similar. Lip contracted in the middle, free from the 

 column, concave at the base, with two basal protuberances. There are two 

 recognised species, E. latifolia and E. jxtlustris. 



E. latifolia (Broad Epipactis). — Stem from 1 to 3 feet in height, slightly 

 Ijubescent above. Leaves large, broadly ovate, ribbed, and clasping the stem. 

 Upper leaves smaller than tliose lower down and more lanceolate. Flowers 

 varying in colour from dirty white to dark i^urple, although greenish purple is 

 the ordinary colour, droojoing, and usually, though not always, in a one-sided 

 raceme. Flowers varying in colour from dark purple, droojiing, and usually, 

 though not always, in a one-sided raceme. Sepals broadly-ovate ; petals ovate- 

 lanceolate. Lip entire, acuminated, and usually shorter than petals. 



When well grown, this plant is not exceeded in stature by 

 any other species, specimens from 2 to over 8 feet in height being 

 not uncommon. It is also a strong growing plant, the .stem when 

 fully formed and mature being remarkably stiff and erect, with a 

 plentiful supply of leaves broadly ovate at the base but gradually 

 becoming smaller and more lanceolate as they ascend. The flowers, 

 which are pendent and racemed, vary very much in colour, 

 specimens from dirty white to dark purple being in some districts 

 not uncommon, — the extreme form being by some botanists recorded 

 as a distinct species under the name of E. ]purpurea, — but from 

 exceptional opportunities of investigation, I doubt this claim ; slight 

 variations in the breadth of the leaves and form of the terminal 

 lobe of the perianth lip certainly occur in various specimens of 

 E. latifolia, but none of these are either sufficiently distinct or con- 

 stant in character to warrant the plant being accorded specific 

 identity. On finding the white-flowered form several years ago, I 

 own I was somewhat puzzled, although at the time I labelled it 

 E. latifolia alba ; but since then I have found it on various occa- 



