829 



THE GENUS OPHRYS. 

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



Tnrs genus is placed by Ascherson and Graebner in tbeir Si/nopsis 

 cler Miffeleuropaischen Flora, vol. iii. (1905-07), in the tribe 

 Oplirj/dece, sub-tribe Serapindince, which comprises the genera Oplirys, 

 Orchis, ^ercqjias, Aceras, Hi mantof/lossum, and Anacamptis. 



Of these, Ophrys, Orchis, and Serapias are Avell defined and 

 natural genera ; the last three, though generally recognised, are not 

 quite so distinct, and it is not altogether certain that the characters 

 on which they rest are of sufficient value to entitle them to generic 

 rank. Ophrys is a particularly natural and well-defined genus : there 

 is never any difficulty in identifying an Ophrys as such, or doubt as 

 to whether any given specimen of European ground-orchid belongs to 

 this genus. 



Ascherson and Graebner divide the genus into the following 

 sections :— 



A. Lip usually only slightly convex, flat or almost flat 



at the edges. 



I. Lip slightly convex, edges tolerably flat, three- 



lobed, without bosses or appendix. Lateral 

 inner divisions of the perianth tongue-shaped, 

 the outer light green. Beak of colunm ^^xy 

 short obtuse JSLusciferce. 



II. Lip slightly, only exceptionally strongly convex, 



edges flat, broadly obovate from a broad base, 

 short, velvety, with a glabrous appendix directed 

 forwards. Outer divisions of perianth pale rose 

 or white ; inner lateral divisions usually almost 

 three-cornered and light purple. Beak of 

 column short, pointing forwards Fticijlorce. 



B. Lip usually very strongly convex, with strongly 



reflexed edges. 



I. Lip as a rule undivided, with or without a very 



short appendix AraneifercB. 



II. Lip usually with a large appendix. Outer divi- 



sions of perianth violet-rose or white Apiferce. 



This division into sections is not altogether satisfactory. It is 

 largely founded on the degree of convexity of the labellum. This 

 sometimes varies considerably in different individuals of the same 

 species, and is not, a fixed quantity : in any case, it is a difference of 

 degree and not of kind, and one which involves no structural or 

 fmictional characters. No clear line of demarcation is drawn between 

 the sections. The group A II, " Lip slightly convex," includes some 

 forms in which this is " strongly convex," and the use of the word 

 "usually" in the main definitions of A and B is a tacit admission 

 that tliese groups are not always easily separable by the characters 

 given. 



This division into sections is somewhat indefinite and inconclusive. 

 JouR^^AL or Botany. — A^ol. 55. [Decemrer, 1917.] 2 a 



