1858.] BOTANICAL SKETCHES. 551 



We were here rather too early in the season for Orchids, but 

 not for the Spider Orchis, which is one of the earliest. I have 

 seen it from Kent, probably near Folkestone, in May or the latter 

 part of April. The Orchis mascula was still in full flower ; that 

 of the 0. maculata was not yet developed. Gymnadenia conopsea 

 was in the same state. Listera ovata, Twayblade, was here and 

 there in flower ; so was Habenaria chlorantha, the Butterfly 

 Orchis. Cephalanthera grandiflora, White Helleborine, was only 

 coming into flower. On reaching the downs adjoining Boxley 

 village, the most productive part of this locality, as we had ob- 

 served on a former \dsit, viz. in September, 1857, we saw 

 Hellehorus fcetidus (Hellebore) growing freely in the old chalk- 

 pits. 



This is another of our suspected plants. 



That it is of spontaneous growth here and in many other parts 

 of England there is no doubt. Grave doubts are entertained 

 about its nativity. It is not nearly so common as the Columbine 

 is, nor is it quite so common as the Green Hellebore, H. viridis. 

 I am not sure whether or not there be so many distinct localities 

 for its spontaneous growth as there are for the Green Hellebore. 

 But where the Green Hellebore grows at all, I have always seen 

 it in great force. I never saw so many individuals of the Stinking 

 Hellebore, nor extending over so wide an extent, as on this part 

 of the downs adjoining Boxley. 



In several parts about this spot we collected many specimens 

 of the Fly Orchis, Ophrys muscifera, with the lower flowers of 

 the spike only well expanded. The leaves of the Bee Orchis had 

 not at that time appeared. 



We saw the usual chalk plants, such as Inula Conyza, Plow- 

 man's Spikenard, Hippocrepis coniosa, etc. etc. 



Several fine specimens of Orchis fusca were observed, the 

 finest, in our judgment, of all the British Orchids. One of our 

 youngsters had the pleasure of discovering a fine example of this 

 grand plant. 



Orchis ustulata was wistfully looked for. From appearances 

 one is certain that the plant grows there, but we did not observe 

 it. Henninium Monorchis we only thought might be there, and 

 it probably is so. 



The temperature was, it may be said, excessively hot for so 

 early a period of the season ; and as we had to walk to Aylesford 



