THE ORCHIS TRIBE. 225 



out {fi()s. 1. & '2. c); another stands quite at the 

 back, coloured with pure rose, and projecting for- 

 ward over the lip {figs. 1. & 2. c*.); below this lie 

 two other leaves, narrower, and more delicate than 

 the last, forming, together with it, the casque out of 

 which the lip seems to hang {figs. 1. & 2. d. d.). 

 These are the parts which answer to the calyx and 

 corolla in other plants ; at first sight, you will be at 

 a loss how to determine which belongs to the one, and 

 which to the other ; and especially to know what the 

 lip is with its spur ; Igok, however, more attentively, 

 and remark, firstly, that the whole number of leaves 

 in the flower is six; and secondly, that three of them, 

 namely, the lip, and two narrower and more delicate 

 leaves, which form part of the casque {figs. 1. & 2. 

 a. & d. d.), are placed within the three others. The 

 first of these (c. c. and c*.) form the calyx, and the 

 last {a. and d. d.) the corolla ; a very irregular one, 

 certainlv, but nevertheless conformable to all the 

 rules of organization ; as for their irregularity, thai is 

 characteristic of the Orchis tribe. A little study and 

 examination by yourself, will satisfy you that this is 

 the true view of their nature, and all the strange ap- 

 pearance which puzzled you at first, was caused by the 

 unusual manner in which the sepals and petals are 

 shaped and directed, and the disproportionate size of 

 one of them. 



The next object that is to engage your attention, 

 is far more singular and diflftcult to understand. In 

 the centre of the flower, in the place of stamens and 

 style, just at the back of the hole that leads down 



Q 



