532 ORCHIDS. 
a spike 7in. long by 3in. through, crowded with bright 
purple, or lilac, or sometimes almost white flowers. 
Planted in deep fibrous loam and protected from slugs, it 
makes a very showy border or rockery plant. It blooms 
in July or August. It is also a good pot-plant, and by 
keeping it in a cool frame until about February, and then 
removing it into a warm greenhouse, it may be had in 
flower in April. | 
Fig. 117 (for which we are indebted to Mr. Thomas 
5; Ware); 
0. latifolia.—The Marsh Orchis, which is so frequent in 
marshes and moist meadows in this country. It varies 
considerably in height, width of the leaves, and size and 
colour of the flowers. The best forms are fully 1ft. high, 
with the flower-spike as represented in the accompanying 
Plate, and coloured deep purple. It differs from O. maculata 
only in having unspotted leaves and a less distinctly-lobed 
labellum. 
Plate (for which we are indebted to the Editor of the 
\ Garden”), 
QO. laxiflora is a European species which does not 
occur in the British Islands, except in Jersey and Guernsey. 
Its leaves are unspotted, its stems are from rft. to 3ft. 
high, and its flowers tin. across, bright red-purple, the 
lip being spotted with a darker colour. It blooms in May 
or June, and is easily kept if planted in a moist situation 
in a loamy soil. 
0. maculata.—An easily-managed British species, often 
met with in gardens. It has narrow, spotted leaves, and 
an erect spike 1ft. or so high, bearing a compact pyramid 
of pale purple or white and spotted flowers, which are at 
their best in June or July. It thrives in a moist, loamy 
