LETTER XIX. 



THE ORCHIS TRIBE THE ASPHODEL TRIBE. 



(Plate XIX.) 



The last natural order of Monocotyledonous plants, 

 with an inferior ovary, which I propose to mention 

 to you, is the Orchis tribe, one of the most extensive 

 and curious of the Vesfetable Kinocdom. In the end 

 of May, or beginning of June, you will meet ^vith 

 great numbers of a fine common species in the pastures 

 and meadows, where they rise with their spotted 

 leaves, and spikes of purple or rosy speckled flowers, 

 conspicuous among the herbage that surrounds them. 

 The country people call them Cuckoo-flowers, because 

 they make their appearance when the cuckoo begins 

 to call. Of these the commonest of all are the Male 

 Orchis (Orchis mascula), and Fool's Orchis (O. Morio), 

 either of which you may gather for the purpose of 

 examination. 



Suppose we take Fool's Orchis. It has a little fleshy 

 root, composed of two oval knobs, and a number 

 of succulent fibres ; its leaves spread at the sur- 

 face of the ground, are of a light green, of a narrow 

 strap-shape, tapering to a blunt point, with a soft, 

 rather fleshy texture, and the usual simple-veined 

 structure of Monocotyledonous plants. The stem is 



