118 



able or constant enough to require particular notice. Stalk erect, 5 

 or 6 inches high, glandular above, bearing two or three smooth trian- 

 gular-lanceolate attenuated sheathing small adpressed leaves. The 

 radical leaves linear-lanceolate, acute, shorter than the stem, about 4 

 in number, covering the lower half of the stalk, 2 or 3 inches long ; 

 the outermost narrowed considerably below and clasping; the others 

 with a long sheathing base, broadest at the top of the sheath. Spike 

 1 to Ig- inch long, oblong, dense, erect ; of from 20 to 30 rather large 

 milk-white flowers closely placed in three spirally-twisted rows, and 

 each accompanied by a smooth triangular-lanceolate bract, the one 

 or two lowermost of which slightly exceed the length of the flowers, 

 but the rest scarcely equal them. Sepals and two upper petals adher- 

 ing together and connected through a considerable space from their 

 base in front, their tops free, linear, blunt. Lip spathulate, blunt, 

 crenate ; its base very broad, thick, glandular externally, channelled 

 by the inflexion of the sides, and almost inclosing the shortly-stalked 

 column, equalling the sepals. Operculum ovate, acute, dark brown, 

 springing from within the hollowed extremity of the column. Ros- 

 tellum of the stigma deeply bifid with flattened subulate very acute 

 points, having an elongate linear bluntish dark brown appendage 

 (proscolla) between and extending beyond them. There is a slight 

 blunt projection between the operculum and the rostellum, which 

 seems to represent the intermediate processes which are found in Spi- 

 ranthes autumnalis and S. aestivalis." — p. 261. 



In speaking of the aflinity of this plant, the author remarks : — 

 " In his ' Genera and species of Orchideous Plants,' Dr. Lindley 

 points out the aflinity of this plant with the Sp. Romanzoffiana, Cham. 

 from which it is now found to diff"er by its much shorter bracts ; its 

 blunt, linear and equally broad sepals ; and its longer spathulate lip. 

 If, however, we examine another allied species, the Sp. cernua, Rich. 

 (Ophrys cernua, L.), we find a plant agreeing most exactly with the 

 Irish N. gemmipara ; indeed, after a careful examination of Drum- 

 mond's Rocky Mountain specimens of Sp. cernua, I am unable to de- 

 tect the slightest difference. Smith's name must therefore become a 

 synonym." 



The figure which accompanies this paper is firom the accurate pen- 

 cil of Mr. J. D. C. Sowerby ; it represents a plant in a more advanced 

 stage than that figured in ' Engligh Botany.' 



