METEORIC FLOWERS. 



269 



resemblance. This is the case in our own bee orchis 

 {Ophrys apifera), not uncommon on chalky downs (fig. 

 44). Inonecuriousspecies 

 the appearance is that 

 of a bird on the wing. 

 The " snipe orchis " is 

 just such a flower as in 

 semi - barbarous coun- 

 tries or amongst a super- 

 stitious people, would be 

 associated with some 

 mystic legend, as in the 

 case of another orchid, 

 the "Holy Ghost " plant, 

 The horned labellum of 

 a New Guinea orchid 

 {PacJiystoma) exhibits 

 another type or irregu- 

 larity (fig. 46). And the 

 figure of a flower of a 

 species of Dendrobhim, a 

 parasitic orchid from New 

 Guinea (fig. 47) will re- 

 present a curious form in 

 which two of the strap- 

 shaped, erect petals, re- 

 semble the horns of an antelope. The zebra orchis 

 {Oncidmin zebrmjtm) from Venezuela, has white 



Fi!^. 44. — Bee Orchis {Ophrys 

 apifera). 



