t 



34 





■DIANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. Ophrys. 



Leaves opposite. Lip strap shaped, cloven half way down. 

 Linn. — Flowers numerous, yellowish green. Floral-leaves not 

 half the length of the germens, oval, taper pointed. Petals form- 

 ing a kind of hood, the 3 outer spear-shaped, the 2 inner strap- 

 shaped, somewhat tinged with purple. Lip as long as the ger- 

 men ; nearly strap-shaped, rolled back at the edges ; segments 

 slightly straddling, with mostly a short pointed intermediate 

 lobe. Anthers not elastic. Woodward. — Calyx, leaves 3, ap* 

 parently extenfions of the blunt angles of the germen, which in 

 the ripe capsule appear in the form of narrow valves. Petals 3> 

 the upper strap-shaped, greenish, tinged with purplish brown at 

 the edge, the lowermost thrice as long ; all apparently extensions 

 of the sides of the germen, which in the ripe capsule appear in 



the form of broad valves. Nectary none. Stamen J. Anther 

 sitting, inserted by its point into the point of the summit, 

 cloven, evidently 1, and not 2 as in Orchis, appearing like a 

 tongue between the summit and the upper segment of the blos- 

 som, soon falling off. Case of the stamen on the under side of 

 the upper segment of the blossom, fleshy, folded into 2 cells, 

 which inclose the 2 lobes of the anther in its earlier state, and 

 when those are ripe and bursting from their inclosures have dis- 

 engaged themselves, closing again, and pressing upon the anther, 

 remain after it has fallen off, and turning brown, might easily* 

 be mistaken for its anther. Capsule not twisted, just before 

 shedding its seed inversely egg-shaped, many times larger than 

 the germen ; O-cornered, 3 of the comers prominent but blunt, 

 the J alternate ones keeled ; of 1 cell, and valves ; 3 strap* 

 shaped, forming the blunt corners, and 3 placed alternately, 

 spear-oblong, thrice as broad, forming the acute corners of the 

 capsule : opening widely at the sutures, but connected above and 



below, letting out while jet green the seeds at the suture ; in this 



state nearly globular, yellowish green, resembling in figure an 

 antique helmet with a vizor. Seeds very numerous, adhering to 

 the inside of the broader valves, in 2 lines along the back of the 

 keeled angle ; oblong, tapering each way, white, membrana- 

 ceous, reticulated, each containing a single globular kernel rather 

 smaller than the diameter of the case which contains it, opaque 

 and of a greenish white. St. — Flowers with, a fragrant and musky 



scent. Mr. Dickenson. 



Spike 4 



Plant about 1 2 inches high, 

 inches long, cylindrical ; little fruitstalks longer than the ger- 

 mens or the floral leaves. 



Common Twayblade. Woods and moist shady thickets : not 

 unfrequent in meadows and pastures. [Beechwood, on Lans- 

 down. Mr. Swayne. — Hurcot wood. July 20, 178.9. St.] 



P. May, June. 



J. B. iii. 534. 

 Leaves some- 



Var. 2. Leaves acute. Mr. Woodward. 



Much smaller and greener than the preceding, 



times three. (Park. Ray.) Leaves triangular or heart-shaped 



Ray, Leaves oval, pointed. 



