52 PROCEEDINGS MANCHESTER INSTITUTE 



11. Habeiiaria fimbriata (Ait.) R. Br. 

 [Mostly reprinted from Vol. I.] 



Abundant in the vicinity of Manchester. A study of the 

 forms is extremely interesting. There are two well marked 

 forms which are so constant in their differences as to demand a 

 special account. What may be called typical H. fimbriata be- 

 gins to bloom, at least in Dearly" seasons, by the ist of June. 

 The flowers are scentless except for the rank odor common to 

 the orchid family, and are usually gone by the ist of July. 

 About the latter date the other form begins to flower, some 

 plants being found in bloom as late as Aug. 25. In this form 

 the flowers are richly scented, having a fragrance similar to 

 that of H. psychodes, but less heavy and therefore more agree- 

 able. The lip and petals are more deeply cut and the pedicels 

 slenderer than in the early form and the whole plant has a more 

 graceful and delicate aspect. There are several abundant 

 stations of this late form known. In most of these the flowers 

 vary in color from pinkish to rather dark purple. In one sta- 

 tion, besides the plants with light and dark purple flowers, 

 there are always some with pure white flowers. 



The differences may be summarized thus : 



Early form, June ist to July ist, flowers purple, not fra- 

 grant, rather stoutly pedicelled, with lip and petals not deeply 

 cut ; late form, July ist to Aug. 25th, flowers dark to light pur- 

 ple, pinkish or pure white, very fragrant, with rather slender 

 pedicels and with lip and petals quite deeply cut. 



So far as observed the two forms do not grow together. 

 H. psychodes, comparatively rare in this vicinity, is found with 

 or near both forms. The forms are persistent, being found in 

 the same stations year after year. The personal observations 

 of the compiler extend over a period of sixteen years. The 

 white-flowered form had been known for an indefinite period 

 before his observations began. 



