ORCniDACEiE. 95 



On banks, borders of fields, and the edges of woods, on chalky soil. 

 Very local, apjDarently confined to the counties of Berks, Oxford, and 

 Bucks. I have gathered it near Pangbourne in Berks, and in several 

 places between Goring and Whitchurch, Oxford. 



England. Perennial. Early Summer. 



Rootknobs from the size of a black currant to that of a damson plum. 

 Leaves 1^ to 4 inches long, usually narrower in proportion to their 

 length than those of 0. fusca. Stem 9 to 18 inches high. Spike 1^ 

 to 3 inches long. Helmet about ^ inch long, much more acuminate 

 than in 0. fusca, and never tinged with dark purple as in that plant; 

 labellum with the segments of the terminal lobe much narrower and 

 less crenulated than in 0. fusca, generally rounded and quite entire at 

 the apex. 



Mr. Bentham considers tliis not distinct from 0. purpurea. I can 

 only conclude he cannot have seen living specimens of both these 

 species. 



The name 0. militaris is now in general use, so it is not expedient 

 to adopt that of Gouan (0. Rivini), though the 0. militaris of Linnaeus 

 included several species, and so has no claim to be retained on the 

 ground of priority. 



Military Orchis. 



Frencli, Orchis militaire. German, Bivin's Knabenkraut. 



SPECIES VI.-ORCHIS SI MI A. Lam. 



Plate MCCCCLIII. 



Bekh.. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. Xm. Tab. CCCLXXIIL 



Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 1331. 



O. tephrosantlios, Vill. Sm. Engl. Fl. Vol. IV. p. 16. Hook. & Am. Brit. Fl. ed. viii. 



p. 434. Lindl. Syn. Brit. Fl. p. 260. Parlat. Fl. Ital. Vol. IH. p. 482. 

 0. miHtaris, var. e, Linn. Sm. Engl. Bot. ed. i. No. 1873. 



Rootknobs undivided, ovate-ovoid or subglobular. Leaves oblong. 

 Flowers in a dense very obtuse spike. Bracts about one-fourth the 

 length of the ovarj', scarious, 1-nerved. Sepals and lateral petals con- 

 nivent into a lanceolate helmet, the sepals acuminate, acute, white, and 

 sometimes veined or dotted with pale rose ; labellum white, with 

 crimson lobes and segments, tie lateral lobes linear- strapshaped, entire, 

 the middle lobe half as long again as the lateral lobes, divided into 

 2 linear-strapshaped segments as long as and of the same breadth as 

 the lateral lobes, rounded or truncate, with a conspicuous tooth in the 

 sinus between them; spur cylindrical, decurved, blunt, about half as 

 long as the ovary. 



In the borders of fields and edges of woods in chalky places. Very 

 local. Apparently confined to the county of Oxford, where I have 



