116 EXGLISU BOTAXT. 



t^Ndsted row, in a dense slender spike. Bracts concave, enclosing the 

 ovary, acuminate-cuspidate. 



In pastures and on banks on chalk and limestone soils. Rather 

 sparingly but generally distributed in England, reaching north to 

 York and Westmoi'eland. Local and rare in Ireland, where it is 

 confined to the south and middle of the island. 



England, Ireland. Perennial. Autumn. 



Rootknobs commonly about the size of a shelled almond or date stone. 

 Leaves appearing about Sej^tcmber, in a lateral tuft, from the centre of 

 which the flowering-stem of the next year is produced ; petiole broad, 

 slieathing ; lamina, 1 to 1^ inch long. Leaves not fully developed 

 tiU the flowers have faded, and remainincr o-reen throunfh the winter. 

 Flowering-stem 3 to 9 inches high, with numerous small sheathing 

 bractlike leaves, with acuminate-cuspidate points. Spike 1^ to 4 

 inches long. Bracts herbaceous, with white scarious margins, longer 

 than the ovary. Perianth about l inch long, greenish-white, curved, 

 so that the apical portion is horizontal. Sepals triangular-lanceolate, 

 about as long as the labellum, the base of which is enclosed by the two 

 lower sepals ; labellum oblong, crenulated at the apex, folded longi- 

 tudinally into a gutter at the base, which embraces the acute column. 

 Rachis, bracts, ovary, and perianth glandular-pubescent. 



Autumnal Ladies' Tresses. 



French, SpirantJie automiiale. German, Herbst Wendelorche. 



SPECIES II.-SPIRANTHES ^STIVALIS. Eich. 



Plate MCCCCLXXIII. 



lieich. Ic. PI. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XHI. Tab. CCCCLXXV. 



Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 4G7. 



Neottia aestivalis, B.C. Bab. in Eng. Bet. Snppl. No. 2817. 



Root with several cylindrical or terete thickened fibres. Radical 

 leaves surrounding the base of the flowering- stem, strapshaped or 

 narrowly elliptical-strapshaped ; lowest leaves on the flowering-stem 

 resembling the radical leaves but smaller, the upper ones minute, 

 resembling bracts. Flowers in one twisted row, in a rather slender 

 dense spike. Bracts concave, enclosing the ovary, acuminate-cuspidate. 



In bogs. Very rare. In a bog in the New Forest, near Lynd- 

 hurst, on the road to Christchurch, Hants ; Wyre Forest, Worcester ; 

 about St. Ouen's Pond, Jersey ; and at Grand Mare, Guernsey. 



England. Perennial. Late Simimer, and early Autumn. 



Rootfibres 2 or 3 inches long, about the thickness of a quill. Leaves 



