ORCHIDACEiE 



H. dilatata sun. A similar distribution of the Eastern specimens was ar- 

 ranged. The results of this experiment tend to show that Dr. 

 Rydberg's conclusions are by no means convincing, and that the 

 differences on which he reUes in making distinctions between the 

 Eastern and Northwestern plants are very often individual pecu- 

 liarities of trifling importance. The variation in the conformation 

 of the lips in all of the colonies was remarkable and showed every 

 gradation from rhombic-lanceolate to linear. The spurs, too, 

 both in length and stoutness, exhibited no constancy even on the 

 same plant. 



The position of the variety leucostachys is not so clear as that 

 of H. borealis. It is evident, however, that the length of the 

 spur is the only conspicuous character which may be relied on for 

 its identification. Among specimens from Little Metis, Province 

 of Quebec, collected in August, 1902, by E. C. Jeffrey, there 

 are flowers, with elongated slender spurs, which resemble so 

 closely specimens from California, collected by E. B. Copeland, 

 that it is impossible to differentiate between them without re- 

 ference to the labels. The Californian specimens would without 

 hesitancy be referred to H. leucostachys, while the Canadian 

 plants would be referred to H. dilatata because of their Eastern 

 origin. On the other hand between these long-spurred specimens 

 and the typical form of H. dilatata there are transitions which 

 tend to show that specific distinction is out of the question. 

 Perhaps H. leucostachys should, after all, be referred to the 

 synonymy oi H. dilatata. In 1899 I collected near Mt. Shasta, 

 California, a series of specimens which represents both long and 

 short-spurred forms. The short-spurred specimens if found in the 

 eastern United States would be referred without hesitation to 

 H. dilatata. 



Limnorchis fragrans Rydberg is, as its name implies, partly 



[60] 



