244 ORCHIS LATIFOLIO-MACULATA TO\YNS. (?) IN DEVON. 



? P. ohlongo-rufescens {spathulatus) Schultz, Fl. No. 15 (1849). 



; p. Kochii F. Sclmltz [spathulatus), Arch. Fl. Fr. et All. 72 



(1842-54). 

 P. lucens V. rufescem Benth. Hand. Brit. Fl. ed. 1, p. 493 (1858). 

 ? P. alpino-natans [spathulatus) Schultz m Jah. d. Poll. p. 229 (1863). 

 P. ohtusuH ^Yood, sec. A. Gray, Man. N. U. S. p. 486 (1868). 

 P. lanccolatus Hook, ex pte. et Du Croz m Herb. Smith ! et Nolte ! 

 P. rctusum Smith MSS. Herb. Mus. Brit. ! 

 P. lucens Lagasca ex sp. Herb. Kew. ! 



I shall be grateful for any additions to this list. 



ORCHIS LATIFOLIO-MACULATA Towns. (?) IN DEVON. 

 By T. K. Aecher Briggs, F.L.S. 



In Mr. Townsend's 'Flora of Hampshire' (p. 341), a hybrid 

 Orchis is mentioned as between 0. latifulia Li. and 0. maculata L., 

 appearing therein under the designation of 0. latij'olio-maculata. 

 From observations I have recently been making in my own neigh- 

 bourhood I am led to suspect that hybrids between these two 

 species are rather freely i3roduced when they grow together. In a 

 meadow here, at Fursdon, both occur, together with a third plant 

 with intermediate features, and separable from each of them. In 

 pasture land on a neighbouring estate, Derriford, the two again 

 occur, and there is this third plant also, though, as at Fursdon, in 

 lesser numbers than are the other two. On the other hand, I have 

 failed to find it in places where either 0. latij'olia or 0. maculata 

 grows alone. 



On examining two fine specimens of the doubtful plant gathered 

 on Derriford, I find that they differ from latifolia in having the 

 label much larger and broader, with three lobes of nearly equal 

 length, the middle one not being conspicuously the longest, in 

 having the spur considerably longer and narrower, and less abruptly 

 pointed. From 0. maculata they differ in having the lower bracts 

 Ijroader and longer, their points exceeding in length the lowest 

 flowers, and so appearing beyond them ; in having the label less 

 cut at its edges and altogether of more formal outline, and the 

 spur considerably less filiform. The ground-colour of the flowers 

 is considerably deeper than is usual in 0. maculata. This supposed 

 liybrid is usually of greater height and more slender growth than 

 O. latifolia. It has the leaves rather faintly spotted. 



The circumstances under which this plant is found in the parish 

 of Egg Buckland, where Fursdon and Derriford are situated, 

 strongly point to its being of hybrid origin, with the probability of 

 O. latifulia, rather than 0. maculata, being usually the seed-parent, 

 proceeding on the supposition of Orchis-pollen being likely to find 

 readier and wider transport than the ripe seed. 



In addition to the notice of Orchis latifulio-macnlata in the 

 'Flora of Hampshire,' I find Mr. G. C. Druce making mention of 



