114 ENGLISH BOTANY. 
houses are devoted to these lovely plants of tropical origin, and great expense is 
incurred in their culture. The greater number of Orchids require a damp and very 
warm atmosphere, unsuited to most other plants. Others, the natives of subtropical 
regions and temperate latitudes, do well under cool treatment, and recent cultivators 
are of opinion that they will become more generally and easily grown than has been 
thought possible. Shapes the most eccentric, and colours the most lovely, ure pro- 
duced in this genus of plants. It is remarkable, however, that, with all their variety 
of tints, blue is almost unknown among Orchids. Besides Orchids esteemed for their 
flowers, there is a class of terrestrial species remarkable for the exquisite pencilling of 
their foliage. These belong chiefly to the Javanese genus Anectochilus, and, being 
extremely tender and delicate, are kept in pots with a bell-glass over them. The 
delicious condiment known as vanilla in confectionery, is the produce of a species of 
Orchis growing in tropical Asia and America, It belongs to the tribe Arethusee, and 
is the only one which possesses any economical value. The best vanilla comes from 
Mexico, and is imported into this country in the shape of black pod-like capsules. 
SPECIES IV.-OPHRYS MUSCIFERA. Huds. 
Pirate MCCCCLXXI. 
Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ. et Helv. Vol. XII. Tab. CCCCXLVIL. 
Billot, ¥\. Gall. et Germ. Exsice. No. 2380. 
O. Myodes, Jacq. Mise. Vol. LI. p. 373. 
Sepals yellowish-green ; labellum somewhat downy, with glossy 
glabrous markings, oblong, not convex longitudinally, with the sides 
more or less reflexed, 3-lobed at the middle ; the lateral lobes without 
humps at the base, their points triangular-strapshaped, spreading ; 
terminal lobe roundish-oyoid, notched or cut into 2 segments at the 
apex, Without an appendage or tooth in the notch. Anther obtuse, 
without a terminal process. 
On chalk downs and borders of fields and rough banks, on chalk and 
limestone soil. Generally distributed in the east of England, extending 
west to Somerset, Gloucester, Hereford, Shropshire, Anglesea and 
Laneaster, and north to Westmoreland and Durham. Rare in Ireland, 
and confined to the middle of the island, where it appears frequently 
to occur in bogs or boggy fields. 
England, Ireland. Perennial. Summer. 
Rootknobs subglobular or ovoid, from the size of a black currant to 
that of a damson plum. Stem 6 inches to 2 feet high. Leaves ellip- 
tical or oblong-elliptical, rarely oval, the largest 2 to 5 inches long, 
fewer in number, and narrower, towards the base than in the other 
British species. Flowers 4 to 12, far separated when expanded. 
Bracts herbaceous, the lower ones usually considerably exceeding the 
ovary. Sepals } to 3 inch long; petals very narrow; labellum hang- 
ing down, about } inch long, maroon purple, with a dark slate-coloured 
