CLASS XX. ORDER I. ] ORCHIS. 1105 
The spikes of the flowers are extremely beautiful, mostly of a very dark 
purple colour, sometimes they are found pale, and occasionally white, 
and the sepals vary in being broader or narrower, and more or less 
acutely pointed. The tubers of this and several other species of 
orchis contain a large proportion of starch. The tubers are known in 
the shops by the name of Salop ; they are said to be prepared by 
depriving them of their cuticle, and baking them in an oven for about 
twelve minutes, and afterwards more gradually dried in the sun. As 
an article of food it is similar in its properties to Sago and Arrow- 
root. Salop is chiefly brought from Persia, where, as in Turkey, it 
is highly esteemed as an article of food, and is said to contain more 
nutritious matter in the same bulk than any other known article ; its 
portability and durability render it a favourite article of food with 
native pedestrians in deserted or thinly habited districts. It was 
formerly much used in England, but is now nearly out of use. In 
some parts of the country the flowers are called Crow’sfoot. 
3. O. pyramida'lis, Linn. (Fig. 1321.) Pyramidal Orchis. Lip 
with three equal entire lobes, with two protuberances at the base 
above ; sepals ovate lanceolate, acuminate, the lateral ones spread- 
ing; spur slender, filiform, as long or longer than the ovarium; 
pollen masses with one gland, each enclosed in a pouch ; leaves 
linear lanceolate. 
English Botany, t. 110—KEnglish Flora, vol. iv. p. 10.—Hooker, 
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i, p. 314.—Anacamptis, Rich.—Lindley, 
Synopsis, p. 261. 
Tubers globose. Stem erect, a foot high or more, clothed with 
leafy sheaths, Leaves long, linear lanceolate, acuminate, a bright 
unspotted green. Inflorescence a terminal broad pyramidal spike of 
numerous crowded flowers, of a rich crimson, varying to a delicate 
pink or white. Bracteas membranous, three ribbed at the base, as 
long as the ovarium. Sepals ovate lanceolate, acute, the lateral ones 
spreading, lip reflexed, of three nearly equal entire obtuse lobes, near 
the base are two lamellar protuberances. Spur slender, awl-shaped, 
or filiform, about as long as the ovarium, reflexed. Pollen masses 
united by one gland, but each enclosed in a single pouch. 
Habitat.—Pastures, banks, and shady places, in a chalky or clayey 
soil in various parts of England; Isle of Colonsay, and in Fifeshire, 
Scotland ; County of Dublin, and about Oldcastle, in the County of 
Cavan. 
Perennial; flowering in July. 
This species is readily distinguished by its pyramidal spike of 
flowers, its entire equal three lobed lip with its two protuberances 
near the base. 
b. Lip deeply divided into three lobes, the middle one much the 
largest, often dilated and bifid, with a tooth in the fissure. 
