6o NATIVE BRITISH ORCHIDACE/E 



(2) Normal self-fertilisation, with the possibility of occasional cross-pollination, 

 E. dtmensis G., £. hptochila G. 



(3) Normal cross-pollination by insects, with self-fertilisation in reserve if insects 

 fail to visit the flowers, £. tnkrophjUa (non-British). 



(4) No self-fertilisation, but entire dependence on insects for pollination, E. lati- 

 folia, E. violacea, E. rubigiiiosa. 



In (i) the stigma curves backward and extends beneath the base of the anther, which 

 deposits the pollinia on its frontal surface, standing erect on their bases. In (2) the 

 pollinia are deposited in the clinandrium, and their upper parts sUde over the sloping 

 upper edge of the stigma on to its effective surface, but the cup glistens with nectar, 

 and a rostellum appears in at least some flowers when they first open, though it soon 

 vanishes. In (3) there is always a rostellum, by which the pollinia are readily removed 

 by insects, but if this fails to occur, a certain quantity of pollen comes over the upper 

 edge of the stigma, as in dunensis and kptochiia, causing self-fertilisation. In (4) the 

 flowers are well visited and the pollinia removed by insects. If this does not happen 

 the pollinia wither in situ, and no seed-capsules are produced. 



I. EpIPACTIS PALUSTRIS Crantz 

 PI. 6. Marsh Helleborine 



Rhizome cylindrical or irregularly thickened, often creeping horizontally, giving off 

 one or more stolons, from the ends of which new buds arise. Roots slender, rather 

 ' long, pale brown. Stem 20-60 cm., erect, solid, angled and more or less clothed 

 with short whitish hairs above, green, sometimes streaked with violet-red below, 

 leafy below the middle, with one or more acute (rarely obtuse), close-fitting, some- 

 times loose or even funnel-shaped leafless sheaths at the base. Leaves 4-8, with 

 rather long sheaths, more or less folded, erect, slightly spreading, ovate-oblong to 

 linear-lanceolate, rigid, acute, sometimes hooded at the stiff tip, glabrous, yellow- 

 green or grey-green, not glossy, much exceeding the internodes, with 3-5 thickened 

 keel-like nerves beneath, and several intermediate translucent ones. Lowermost leaf 

 or leaves short, ovate or oblong, rounded, concave, embracing the base of the next 

 leaf, dull red beneath, the uppermost linear-lanceolate, tapering, acute, bract-like. 

 Raceme lax, 7-14-flowered, at first drooping, turned to one side. Flowers moderately 

 large, bell-shaped, then opening wider, at first drooping, then horizontal, finally 

 pendent, creamy white, more or less tinged or streaked with violet-red or brown, 

 scentless. Bracts lanceolate, acute, tapering, the lowest about equalling or slightly 

 exceeding the ovary, the upper much shorter, nerves 5-7. Ovary long, slender, 

 spindle-shaped, tapering into a stalk, not as a rule twisted, brownish or dull green, 

 rough with short hairs, with six obtuse ridges, finally pendent, stalk twisted, brownish 



