OECHID TRIBE 213 



broader than long, rounded. Flowers red-brown, appearing a month earlier 

 than the others. Found on the limestone cliffs of Orme's Head (Carnarvon- 

 shire), in Yorkshire, Sutherland, etc. 



2. Marsh Helleborine (H. paliistris). — Leaves lanceolate, embracing 

 the stem ; bracts generally shorter than the flowers ; terminal lobe of the 

 lip roundish oval, or inversely egg-shaped, broadest at or above the middle, 

 crenate, very blunt. This, which is a local species, is found on wet lands, in 

 Britain, and more rarely in Ireland. The flowers, which are somewhat droop- 

 ing, grow in a lax spike, on a wiry stem, about a foot or a foot and a half 

 high. The stem is sometimes tinged with purple. The sepals are purplish- 

 green, the petals and lip white, varied with rose colour. 



3. Large White Helleborine (E. gj-andifldra). — 'Lesiyes egg-shaped, or 

 somewhat lanceolate, sessile ; bracts longer than the smooth ovary ; sepals 

 erect, blunt ; terminal lobe of the lip oval, abruptly blunt, shorter than the 

 rest of the petals ; rootstock creeping. This is a very pretty and conspicuous 

 plant among trees and bushes, on a chalky soil. 



"It grows in deep green woods with tangled alleys, 



Where hues of sunshine stream athwart the trees, 

 "Where moss the thickest springs in dewy valleys, 



Where tassell'd grasses nod upon the breeze ; 

 AVhere rambling wreaths delay the rash intruder, 



Holding him fast as each would notice claim, 

 Where slender sapling twigs, a barrier ruder, 



Close round him o'er the path through which he came." 



The flowers grow on the upper part of the stem, in a distant spike, during 

 May and June, They are of large size, the sepals nearly all equal, including 

 the small lip marked with raised lines, and which, though white externally, 

 is yellowish inside. The hue of the flower differs a little in different 

 specimens ; in some it is pure as snow, in others delicately cream-coloured. 

 The leaves are broad, and bright green and glossy. Some writers place this 

 and the following species in a distinct genus, termed CephalantJiera, calling 

 this C. pallens. 



4. Narrow-leaved White Helleborine (E. ensifolia). — Leaves lanceo- 

 late ; bracts much shorter than the smooth ovary ; terminal lobe of the lip 

 blunt; rootstock creeping. This is a rare plant of mountainous woods, 

 flowering in May and June. Its large blossoms are somewhat spiked, and 

 are white, the lip marked with several white lines and a yellow spot in front. 

 The stem is usually more than a foot high. 



5. Purple Helleborine (E. rubra). — Leaves lanceolate and acute; 

 bracts longer than the downy ovary; terminal lobe of the lip pointed and 

 marked with raised lines ; rootstock creeping. This is a very rare plant of 

 limestone woods in Gloucester and Somerset. The flowers are large and 

 rose-purple, with a white lip, expanding in June and July, and forming a 

 loose spike on a stem about a foot in height. 



These Helleborines are fertilized by wasps and flies, and to accommodate 

 them the lip is hollowed out, basin fashion. After partaking of the honey, 

 the wasp is compelled to come in contact with the stigma, and then to carry 

 away pollen wherewith to fertilize the next Helleborine it visits. 



