224 LETTER XIX. 



erect, and about nine inches high, sometimes less, but 

 seldom more ; it is covered by two or three leaves 

 wrapped round it, so as to form a sort of sheath ; at 

 its top it bears a spike of flowers, coloured with green 

 and white, and having the following most remarkable 

 structure. 



From the bosom of a narrow wavy lance-shaped 

 bract (Plate XIX. 2. fig. 2./.), springs an angular 

 twisted body, pure green at its lower end, but often 

 stained with red near the top {fig. 2. e.); this is an 

 ovary, containing only one cell, and an inconceivable 

 multitude of minute ovules, arranged in double rows 

 upon three narrow receptacles ; at its point it is grace- 

 fully bent forward, as if to present you with its sin- 

 gular green and pink flower. 



The first thing that usually strikes an observer, is 

 a broad roundish notched leaf {fig. 1. and 2. a.), hang- 

 ing from out of a sort of casque or helmet, the two 

 sides of which expand and retreat a little {fig- 1. c. c), 

 so that they may set off" the lively rose colour and 

 rich crimson blotches with their own dull green 

 stripes ; this leaf is called the lip (labellum), and 

 separates a little into three divisions, of which the 

 side ones are the most notched and the largest; at 

 its base is a hole {fig. i.e.) which will prove, upon 

 examination, to be the mouth of a rose-coloured horn, 

 that seems to swing lightly behind the flower {figs. 

 1. and 2. Z>.) ; it is usually called the spur. The 

 other leaves of the flower are thus : two are concave, 

 spreading, a little turned in at the point, and charm- 

 ingly striped with green veins, both within and with- 



