1126 EPIPACTIS. [CLASS XX. ORDER 1, 
p- 319.—Lindley, Synopsis, p. 259.—Serapias, Linn.—English 
Botany, t. 271.—Cephal-anthera pallens, Richard.—Epipactus pallens, 
Swartz. 
Root creeping, with simple long fibres. Stem erect, about a foot 
high, round, smooth, leafy. Leaves ovate, or elliptic lanceolate, with 
a tapering point, sessile, and somewhat clasping the stem at the base, 
a smooth fine green, many ribbed, gradually becoming smaller above, 
and forming at length into bractea, which are longer than the flowers, 
except the uppermost ones. Inflorescence a terminal spike of few 
distant white erect or slightly drooping flowers. Sepals ovate, acute, 
spreading, white or pale green externally. Petals similar to the 
sepals, but pure white, becoming brown after blooming. Lip three 
lobed, the middle lobe broader than long, ovate or heart-shaped, 
marked with three yellow lines. Column very long. Capsule narrow, 
long, sessile. 
Habitat.—Woods and shady places, especially in a chalky or lime- 
stone country; not very common. 
Perennial; flowering in June. 
5 E. ensifollia, Swartz. (Fig. 1353.) Narrow-leaved White Helle- 
borine. Leaves lanceolate, the upper ones linear, acuminate, am- 
plexicaul; bracteas very small; ovarium smooth; sepals lanceolate, 
slightly spreading, inclosing the three lobed lip, the middle lobe 
obtuse. 
English Flora, vol. iv. p. 45.—Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i, 
p- 319.—Lindley, Synopsis, p. 259.—Serapias, Linn.—English Botany, 
t. 494.—Cephal-anthera ensifolia, Richard. 
Root scarcely creeping, of numerous simple downy fibres. Stem 
about a foot high, erect, smooth, slender, enveloped at the base in 
membranous sheaths, and bearing numerous alternate leaves. Leaves 
smooth, bright green, many ribbed, embracing the stem at the base, 
the lowest one often ovate, the rest lanceolate, gradually diminishing 
upwards into linear acuminate. Inflorescence a terminal spike of a 
few somewhat spreading flowers, of a pure white. Bracteas very 
small, awl-shaped, smooth, as well as the slender ovarium. Sepals 
lanceolate, or ovate lanceolate, acuminate, scarcely spreading, smooth. 
Petals similar to the sepals, and enclosing the lip, which is short, 
three lobed, the terminal lobe very obtuse, broader than long, 
yellowish on the disk, with several elevated lines. Column very 
long. Stigma large, angular, peltate. Pollen masses deeply cloven. 
Capsule linear, strongly ribbed, sessile. 
Habitat.—Mountainous woods; rare. 
Perennial ; flowering in May and June. 
The two following species are nearly allied, but readily distin- 
guished from each other by the difference in the length of the bracteas. 
The flowers are white and elegant, but without odour. Both species 
