BUTTERFLY ORCHIS. 91 



the Village called High-gate neere London, and likewise in 

 the wood belonging to a Worshipfull Gentleman of Kent, 

 named Master Sid ley, of South-fleet." Gerarde goes on 

 to say that " there is no great use of these in physicke, 

 but they are chiefly regarded for the pleasant and beautif ull 

 floures wherewith Nature hath seemed to play and dis- 

 port herself e." 



The tubers of the root of the butterfly orchis are two 

 in number, somewhat large, and terminating below in 

 long points. " To describe," says an old author, "all the 

 several sorts of orchis would be an endless piece of work ; 

 therefore, I shall only describe the roots, which are to be 

 used with some discretion. They have each of them a 

 double root; within, some of them are round, in others 

 like a hand : these alter every year by course; when the 

 one riseth and waxeth full, the other waxeth lank and 

 perisheth. Now it is that which is full which is to be 

 used in medicines, the other being either of no use, or 

 else, according to the humours of some, it destroys and 

 disannuls the virtue of the other, quite undoing what 

 that doth." 



The stalk is a foot or more in height, having small 

 scaly leaves at intervals upon it, smooth to the touch, 

 but prominently ribbed. The large radical leaves are 

 ordinarily two in number hence the specific name bifolia 

 but we may at times find three. These are a rich green 

 in colour, and broadly oval in form, the veinings upon 

 them being distinctly seen. The flower-cluster is often 

 six or eight inches long, the flowers themselves being 

 either pure white or slightly tinged with green or cream- 

 colour. The blossoms may be looked for early in June, 

 and they continue well into August. The plant varies a 



