36 THE JOURNAL OF UOTANY 



type ; the details of the lip are shown in PI. 555. 10 ; in this case 

 there is a large centre-boss. Figs. C and E represent the narrow type 

 of lip; PL 555. 11, gives the details of the same lip; here the 

 bosses merge into one another in a long-triangular moulding. Fig. B 

 gives an intermediate type. Of this lip the details are shown in 

 PI. 555. 22 ; here there is a confluent triangular moulding of the lip, 

 with a minute central boss besides. In all three cases the leaves 

 were inclining to a narrow type; but similar lips may be found with 

 all tvpes of leaf. 



The character of the lip-bosses varies independently of the shape 

 of the lip ; in all cases there are two bosses, and very often three. 

 Sometimes they stand out from the surface of the lip abruptly, hut 

 more often the lip is moulded into a fairly smooth triangular swelling, 

 out of which the bosses arise : in that case the central boss is some- 

 times a mere vertical line or ridge upon the top of this elevation. 

 Where there are only two bosses there may be a deep depression 

 between them ; they may stand out very little, with but slight folds, 

 or may be very prominent and much knotted. The centre-boss may 

 be a mere pin's head, or it may be as large or larger than the side- 

 bosses, or it may be long and narrow, sometimes coming down to the 

 point of the lip. And any of these characters of lip and boss may be 

 combined with any of the characters of the leaves and bracts which 

 have already been' described. We have therefore every justification 

 for coming to the conclusion that the distinctions set up in British 

 floras between E. latifolia and E. media break down completely. 

 All the forms must be assigned to the species latifolia, seeing that, 

 as will be easily shown later on, E. media must be given up in any 

 case. Purchas (Journ. Bot. 1885, p. 201) argues against _£. media 

 being counted as a British species, as also does Freyn (B. E. C. Rep. 



1897). 



At this point a few words may be written in reference to E. atro- 

 viridis, described as a new species by VV. P. Linton in his Flora of 

 Derbyshire, p. 270 and plate (1903). The leaves are graduated on 

 the stem, and neither very broad nor very long. The lip has a 

 distinct centre-boss, but a recurved tip, and is broader than long; 

 apparently the character of the centre-boss more than anything else 

 led to Linton's giving specific rank to the form. The Rev. E. F. 

 Linton kindly sent a specimen which he thought was most probably 

 E. afroviriclis, but could not absolutely certify. The lip of this is 

 given in Journ. Bot. 1920, PL 555. fig. 18. It has a long but not 

 prominent centre -boss. The leaves are ovate-acuminate, of an inter- 

 mediate type. In Cardiganshire a great many plants are to be found 

 with well-marked centre-bosses and of many types of leaf, which 

 mio-ht be brought in here ; but in view of what has been said about 

 the intermixing of all these characters, it is vain to attempt to main- 

 tain the distinctness of this species. Mr. Arthur Bennett in Journ. 

 Bot. 1901, p. 24, questions the specific value of the form, and we 

 entirely agree with his conclusions. 



Dr. Druce has described a var. angustifolia (of latifolia) and 

 \rar. platyphylla (of media). To what extent these forms represent 

 constant variations we have no means of deciding. We have found 



