08 EXGLISn BOTANY. 



Avlicn it is the 0. speciosn, no.<^t. {Pwich. I.e. tab. cccxci. fii^s. 1 and 2) ; 

 but it ^^cems impossible to draw any line of demarcation betAvecn the 

 three forms. Flowers redder and less purple than in 0. ]Morio, and 

 the sepals without green lines. 



Early Purple Orchis. 



Frencli, Orcliis nude. German, Mdnnliclii's Knahcnlraut. 



This is perhaps the best kiio\\^i of all the British Orchids. Its tuberous roots 

 abound in a starch-like matter, called by chemists hassorin, which is likewise found 

 in the roots of Orchis Morio. This substance, which is a kind of starch, is contained 

 in the tubers of various species of Orchis, which are prepared in Turkey and Persia, 

 and exported as an article of food under the name of " saloop " or " salep." At one 

 time salep was a favourite beverage in England, as procured from the native species 

 of Orchis, but it has fallen into disuse. The mode of preparation is to dig up the new 

 roots at the end of summer, when the seed is fully formed, the bulbs being then in 

 perfection ; they are then scalded in water and dried in an oven till they acquire a 

 horny consistence, the outer skin being first rubbed oS". When used as food, this horny 

 substance is simply boiled in water to the required consistency. Salep appears to 

 form a very healthful article of diet, and has been frequently recommended in 

 delicate conditions of health. It is said that a small quantity of salep added to milk 

 has been found to retard the commencement of acetous fermentation in that fluid; 

 and that a moderate proportion of it added to wheaten flour is a useful and economical 

 addition in making bread. A veiy small qiiantity of salep is suflicient to support 

 life, an ounce a day having been known to sustain a man for nearly a week. 



The "long purples" mentioned by Shakspeare are, we imagine, a variety of Orchis, 

 still called " dead men's fingers" in some parts of the country. 



" Therewith fantastic garlands did she make 

 Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and lonrj jnirples, 

 That liberal shepherds give a grosser name. 

 But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them : 

 There, on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds 

 Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke ; 

 When down her weedy trophies, and herself, 

 Fell in the weeping brook." 



SPECIES IX.— ORCHIS LAXIPLORA. Lam. 

 Plate MCCCCLVI. 

 Eeich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XIII. Tab. CCCXCIII. Fig. 1. 



Eootknobs globular, undivided or subglobular. Leaves strapshaped 

 or lanceolate-strapshaped, acuminate and very acute, not spotted. 

 Flowers in a very lax spike. Bracts about as long as the ovary, sub- 

 herbaceous, generally tinged with crimson, 3- to 5-nerved. Lateral 

 sepals spreading-ascending, at length reflexed, the upper sepal and 

 the petals connivent, all of them obtuse, crimson-purple ; labellum 

 about as broad as long, with the sides reflexed, crimson-purple, paler 



