114 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



houses are devoted to these lovely plants of tropical origin, and great expense ia 

 incurred in their culture. The greater number of Oi'cliids require a damp and very- 

 warm atmosphere, unsuited to most other plants. Others, the natives of subtropical 

 regions and temperate latitudes, do well under cool treatment, and recent cultivators 

 are of opinion that they will become more generally and easily gi-own than has been 

 thought possible. Shapes the most eccentnc, and colours the most lovely, are pro- 

 duced in this genus of plants. It is remarkable, however, that, with all their variety 

 of tints. Hue is almost unknown among Orchids. Besides Orchids esteemed for their 

 flowers, there is a class of terrestrial species remarkable for the exquisite pencilling of 

 their foliage. These belong chiefly to the Javanese genus AiueciucJulus, and, being 

 extremely tender and delicate, are kept in pots with a bell-glass over them. The 

 delicious condiment known as vanilla in confectionery, is the produce of a species of 

 Orchis growing in tropical Asia and America. It belongs to the tribe Arethusece, and 

 is the only one which possesses any economical value. The best vanilla comes from 

 Mexico, and is imported into this country in the shape of black pod-like capsules. 



SPECIES IV.-OPHRYS MUSCIPERA. Huds. 



Plate MCCCCLXXI. 



Bekh. Ic. n. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XIH. Tab. CCCCXLVIL 

 Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 2380. 

 O. Myodes, Jacq. Misc. Vol. III. p. 373. 



Sepals yellowish-green ; labellum somewhat downy, with glossy 

 glabrous markings, oblong, not convex longitudinally, with the sides 

 more or less reflexed, 3-lobed at the middle ; the lateral lobes without 

 humps at the base, their points triangular-strapshaped, spreading ; 

 terminal lobe roundish-ovoid, notched or cut into 2 segments at the 

 apex, without an appendage or tooth in the notch. Anther obtuse, 

 without a terminal process. 



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

 limestone soil. Generally distributed in the east of England, extending 

 west to Somerset, Gloucester, Hereford, Shropshire, Anglesea and 

 Lancaster, and north to Westmoreland and Durham. Rare in Ireland, 

 and confined to the middle of the island, where it appears frequently 

 to occur m bogs or boggy fields. 



England, Ireland. Perennial. Summer. 



Rootknobs subglobular or ovoid, from the size of a black currant to 

 that of a damson plum. Stem 6 inches to 2 feet high. Leaves ellip- 

 tical or oblong-eliiptical, rarely oval, the largest 2 to 5 inches long, 

 fewer in number, and narrower, towards the base than in the other 

 British species. Flowers 4 to 12, far separated when expanded. 

 Bracts herbaceous, the lower ones usually considerably exceeding the 

 ovaiy. Sepals ^ to f inch long; petals very narrow; labellum hang- 

 in"' down, about -^ inch long, maroon purple, with a dark slate-coloured 



