121 



THE FORMS OF ORCHIS MACULATA 



(O. maculata L. including O. Fuchsii Druce (O. O 1 Kelly i Druce), 

 O. maculata subsp. ericetorum Linton, O. maculata preecox Webster.) 



Br Rev. T. Stephenson, D.D., and T. A. Stephenson, M.Sc. 



(Plate 559.) 



We propose first to describe briefly the chief British types of the 

 Spotted Orchis, and then to discuss the nomenclature, especially in 

 relation to the continental forms. The main British types we shall 

 refer to provisionally as O. Fuchsii (including the race O. O'Kellyi) 

 and O. ericetorum. We regard these forms as quite distinct and 

 deserving the rank of species. 



Orchis Fuchsii Druce. 



In some characters O. Fuchsii is intermediate between O. latifolia 

 and O. ericetorum. It usually has sepals more erect and spur stouter 

 than O. ericetorum, and broader and flatter leaves. Typically, how- 

 ever, it is a more slender and graceful plant than O. latifolia, with a 

 more pyramidal spike ; and in habit and lip-type is quite distinct from 

 both of the other species. Difficulties in identification may arise, 

 owing to the fact that any sort of hybrid crossing may occur, and 

 under conditions of soil and moisture not favourable to the particular 

 form. 



The most characteristic type of O. Fuchsii is found in and about 

 the margins of woods ; it is a tall and often slender plant, 4-5 dm. 

 high, with solid stem and spike 3-6 cm. at first markedly conical, the 

 lowest bract generally exceeding the flowers. The upper leaves are 

 bract-like and fall well below the base of the spike. The lower leaves 

 are increasingly broad, and blunter and flatter than in O. ericetorum, 

 the lowest of all being an almost perfect oval and shorter than those 

 above. The difference is well brought out in figure B, which is taken 

 from a photograph, the flatness of the leaves being well seen in the 

 profile of one of the leaves on the right. The leaves are usually more 

 or less thickly covered with spots and heavy blotches, though in a fair 

 proportion of plants they are unspotted. The flowers are usually of a 

 pale lilac or rose, but vary a good' deal in intensity of tint. The spur 

 is nearly straight, and regularly enlarged to the mouth, usually a little 

 stouter than that of O ericetorum which is generally nearly filiform 

 throughout, varies much in length, and, when long, is curved, and may 

 be either longer or shorter than that of O. Fuchsii nearly always is. 

 The lip is broader than long, about 6-11 mm. wide by 5-7 mm. long, 

 or in some cases larger. The shape varies a good deal, but the centre- 

 lobe is always marked off from the side-lobes by deep clefts, and its 

 area relatively to that of the side-lobes is much greater than in the 

 case of O. ericetorum, whose centre-lobe is very small. The side- 

 lobes are often quite divergent from the centre-lobe, with high 

 shoulders evenly rounded, sometimes angular or cuneate, entire or 

 crenulate. The lip-pattern is oftenest in bright lines with a few spots 

 within the lines ; but some are spotted and marked all over, and some 

 are very pale with no marks at all. Under similar conditions it 

 flowers a little later than O. ericetorum. 



Joubnal or Botant. — Vol. 59. [Mat, 1921.] k 



