172 



having the bracts very much smaller, the leaves generally 

 spotted with purple, and the lip deeply three-lobed, the middle 

 lobe being much the longest. Root of both species of two 

 tubers, spread out like a hand. 



O. S. Green-winged Meadow Orchis, Dwarf Dark-winged Orchis, 

 Great Brown-winged Orchis, Military Orchis, Monkey Orchis, Lizard 

 Orchis, and Pyramidal Orchis. 



OPHRYS. OPHRYS. 



BEE OPHRYS. BEE FLOWER. Ophrys apifera. 

 Plate 13, fig. 19. 



Although many hill- sides in the South of England are 

 covered with the Bee Flower, it can scarcely be called common, 

 but its great beauty, and singular form, entitle it to a place 

 here, and its discovery will well repay the search for it. To 

 see it growing you would suppose that three or four humble 

 bees had settled upon a stem, rather than that they were 

 flowers before you so much does it resemble that busy insect. 

 The lower lip of the flower looks and feels like velvet, is of an 

 elegant brown, streaked with yellow, and swelled out, forming 

 as it were a body. On the upper part of this are two small 

 yellow lobes, which may be aptly compared to thighs loaded 

 with honey : then again in the middle there is the stigma, with 

 its bright yellow pollen masses, like a head and eyes above 

 this two narrow, fringed, pink petals, resembling horns, and 

 to make the delusion still more perfect, the whitish and spread- 

 ing calyx leaves is the flower upon which the mimic insect rests. 

 It flowers in May and June. 



I remember well when a child how ardently and long I sought 

 for this flower, and when after some time I met it flowering 

 and flourishing, along with some of its relations, on a sunny 

 hill-side in Kent, none but a botanist can imagine my eager 

 delight and gratification ; and although many years have since 

 passed, and far different pursuits than those of childhood have 

 engaged my attention, yet even now I behold the Bee Flower 

 with undiminished pleasure and admiration. 



" Bright insect-seeming flower ! Thou art indeed 



Of thy gay family a curious child. 

 When first I met with thee, upspringing wild 



Hard by the path, where did my footsteps lead. 

 How caught with admiration did I stop, 

 .And cull thee from amidst the grassy spires ! 



