33 



EPIPACTIS VmiDIFLORA Reich. 



By Colonel M. J. Gtodfery, F.L.S. 



(Plate 553.) 



In the Journal of Botany for 1919 (pp. 87-42) I described 

 and named the var. leptochila of E. viridijiora Kchb., contrasting it 

 with E. vlolacea Dur. Duq. Owing to the neeessary drawings not 

 being completed, I could not then go into the questio.i of its specific 

 distinctness from E. lafifolia AIL, of which m )st Continental 

 authors regard it as a mere form or variety. 1 now re})air this 

 omission. 



Differences in the Vegetative Organs. 



The root-system in E. latifolia consists of a bunch of fleshv 

 cylindrical processes springing from the base of the stem and forming 

 a dense tassel round it. Last August I found E. latifolia with seven 

 stems growing in a tuft from one root-crown, a habit which appears 

 to be rare. Here then, if anywhere, was an opportunity to see a fully 

 developed rhizome. The number of roots was very great — they 

 radiated in a circle in every direction, packed tight together, forming 

 a raised mass or crown, from which arose seven How^ering stems, and 

 eight new buds. On turning the root upside down, it was seen to be 

 dome-shaped in its original position. The roof of this dome con- 

 sisted entirely of brownish-white cylindrical roots tightl}^ pressed 

 together. There was no central rhizome or descending root ; I then 

 cut a vertical section through the thick root-crown, with a view to 

 discovering the expected internal rhizome. The section showed that 

 the mass consisted almost entirely of rootlets, the white circular 

 sections of which occupied most of the space in the cut surface. In 

 the neighbourhood of the new buds there were irregularly triangular 

 sections of what appeared to be small separate solid bodies. There 

 was no common rhizome. 



In E. viridijiora there is a long descending rhizome from which 

 fleshy roots spring at the nodes at different levels throughout its 

 length. At the base, above the roots, there is a thick" common 

 rhizome from which the steins arise. The plant is deep down in the 

 soil and difficult to dig up, whilst latifolia is easil}^ unearthed. 



In viridiflora each bud has only one rootlet, springing from its 

 base, on the outside, whilst in latifolia there are two, one on each 

 side, in the angle between the bud and the stem. 



The leaves in both plants vary in different specimens, and no clear 

 line of demarcation can be drawn. They are, however, differently 

 arranged. In viridiflora they are nearly distichous, except some- 

 times the uppermost bract-like leaves. In latifolia the three lowest 

 leaves spring from the stem at approximately an angle of (50° from 

 each other, forming a kind of false rosette (but of course at different 

 levels from each other) round the base of the stem. 



The sepals and petals are entirely green in viridifora (very rarely 

 Journal of Botany. — Vol. 58. [Ferkuary, 1920.1 i) 



