ORCHIDEOUS TRIBE. 585 



flavouring chocolate and other sweetmeats, no plant 

 in the Order can be said to be extensively used, either 

 in the arts or sciences. Lindley conjectures the number 

 of species to amount to 3000. 



The characters by which the families of this Order 

 are distinguished are, owing to the curious structure of 

 the flowers comprised in it, so peculiar that they reqfuire 

 to be attentively studied by reference to fresh specimens 

 before any description of them can be understood. It 

 has been thought necessary, therefore, in the case of the 

 Orchideous Tribe, to depart from the method pursued 

 in the other parts of this work, and instead of perplexing 

 the student with a systematic detail of generic characters, 

 to describe such species as are of common occurrence, at- 

 tention being paid only to their more obvious characters. 

 The student will thus be enabled to ascertain the names 

 of most, if not all, of the species which are likely to 

 excite his attention. He may then examine them with 

 accuracy, and when he has made himself acquainted 

 with their structure and peculiarities^ he will be in a 

 position to compare whatever new specks may chance to 

 fall in his way with the descriptions given in works of 

 higher pretension. 



The first which is likely to be presented to his notice 

 is Orchis mdscula (Early purple Orchis), a succulent 

 plant about a foot high, flowering in May and June, and 

 abounding in woods and pastures wherever the Wild 

 Hyacinth flourishes. The root consists of two roundish 

 solid tubers ; the leaves are of a liliaceous texture, 

 stained with dark purple spots, oblong and clasping the 

 stem ; the stem is solitary, and bears an erect cluster of 

 purple flowers, mottled with lighter and darker shades ; 

 each flower rises from a somewhat twisted ovary, and 

 has a long spur, which turns upwards. The colour 

 of the flower, associated as it often is with Cowslips 

 and Wild Hyacinths, is rich and beautiful ; but the 

 odour is strong and offensive, especially in the evening. 



Orchis Morio (Green-winged Meadow Orchis) comes 



