ORCIIIDACE^E. Ill 



SPECIES I— OPHRYS APIPERA. Evds. 

 Plate MCCCCLXVII. 



Heich Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XHI. Tab. CCCCLVIL 

 Billot, Fl. GaU. et Germ. Exsicc. No. 3-i79. 



Sepals pmk or rose ; labellum velvety, especially towards the margin, 

 with glabrous markings, oval, semiglobose, with the sides retlexed, 

 3-lobed from from the base; the lateral lobes with humps at the base, 

 and points produced beyond the margin of the labellum; the middle 

 lobe with 2 reflexed segments with a long strapshaped-triangular 

 pigmoid-reflexed appendage. Anther terminated by an acute reflexed 

 process. 



On chalk downs and the borders of fields and rough banks on 

 chalky and limestone soils. Rather local, but generally distributed in 

 the south of England, extending in the west as far north as Tenby ; 

 but in the east to the chalk districts of Yorkshire and the magnesian 

 limestone of Durham. Rare, but widely disti'ibuted in the south and 

 middle of Ireland, where it is recorded as occurring on sandhills, as 

 well as in calcareous and clayey pastures. 



England, Ireland. Perennial. Midsummer. 



Rootknobs subglobular, from the size of a black currant to that of 

 a large cherry, one of them often at the end of a short thick descend- 

 ing stolon. Leaves oblong-elliptical, rapidly decreasing in size up- 

 wards. Stem 6 inches to 2 feet high. Bracts commonly rather longer 

 than the ovary, sometunes longer than the flowers. Flowers 2 to 5, 

 rarely as many as 8 or 10. Calyx segments oblong-elliptical, boat- 

 shaped, fleshcolour or pink (rarely nearly white), greenish on the 

 back, \ to ^^r inch long, spreading; petals much narrower and shorter 

 than the sepals, strapshaped, downy on the inside ; labellum about as 

 long as the calyx segments, maroon purple with yellow markings ; 

 the lateral lobes more hairy than the middle lobe, especially at their 

 prominent base, reflexed; the middle lobe most hairy towards the 

 apex and margins, variously marked -svith yellow hues and dots; the 

 terminal point bent fii'st backwards and then forsvards. 



Bee Orchis. 



French, Ophrys abeille. Gorman, Bienenahnliclie Frauenthrdne 



SPECIES n.— OPHRYS ARACHNITES. Beichard. 

 Plate MCCCCLXVIIL 

 Beich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XIII. Tab. CCCCLXI. 

 O. fuciflora, Beich. fil. I.e. p. 85. Crep. Man. Fl. Belg. ed. ii. p. 93. 



Sepals pink ; labellum velvety, especially at the sides; subqua- 



