96 FLY ORCHIS. 



like the body of a spicier, and it has pale 

 lines marked on it, ^Yhicll would remind one 

 of a Greek character. The later Spider orchis 

 flowers about May or Jane, and is a rare 

 plant : while still more rare is the Drone 

 orchis {Oj^hri/s fucifera), Avhicli has been 

 found near Folkestone in Kent. 



The genus Ophrys received its name from 

 the Greek word for an eyebrow, which Pliny 

 says these plants were used to blacken. Like 

 most of the Orchis tribe, the roots contain a 

 wholesome farinaceous substance, of which is 

 made the Salep of commerce. The warm basin 

 of salep is not now, as it was some years since, 

 a favourite article of diet, and is taken by few 

 save invalids. It was chiefly imported from 

 Southern Europe, but may be made equally 

 well from our native orchises. Salep, prepared 

 from different species of orchis, is much used 

 in Eastern countries, and in Tui'kev not a meal 

 is taken mthout it. 



