o::ciiiDACE.'E. 117 



ap]ieanng with the flowering stem, and sheathing its base, 2 to 6 

 iiiclies long, graduallv attenuated into an indistinct petiole; the 

 tut't of leaves from which the flowering stem of the next season is to 

 be produced may be found in a young state in the axil of the lowest 

 leafi but it is not developed till after the flowers have faded. Flowering 

 stem it to 18 inches high. I'^'pike 2 to 6 inches long. Flowers similar 

 to those of S. autumnalis, but a little larger, with narrower sepals, and 

 the labellum rather longer in proportion and more puberulent on the 

 upper side at the apex. Rachis, bracts, ovary, and exterior of the 

 sejials glandular- puberulent, the hau's being considerably shorter than 

 in S. autumnalis. 



Summer Ladies^ Tresses. 



French, Spiranthe cVite. Gennan, Sonimer Weiirldorclie. 



SPECIES m.— SPIRANT HES GEMMIPARA. Lindl 



Plate MCCCCLXXIV. 



Beicli. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XHI. Tab. CCCGLXXVII. Figs. 23, 24. 



S. cernua, Bah. olim Bot. Mag. No. 5277. Benth. Handbk. Brit. Bot. ed. ii. p. 455 



(nou Rich). 

 " S. RomanzofHana, Cham." Reich, fil. 1. c. p. 153. Asa Gray, Man. Bot. of N. U. S. 



ed. V. p. 504. 



Root with several cylindrical or terete thickened fibres. Radical 

 leaves surrounding the base of the flowering stem, strapshaped- 

 elhptical ; lowest leaves on the flowering stem resembling the radical 

 leaves, and scarcely smaller; uppermost leaves smaller, resembling 

 the bracts. Flowers in 3 tmsted rows in a rather thick dense spike. 

 Bracts slightly concave, enclosing the ovary only at the base, acumi- 

 nate. Sepals and lateral petals connivent ; labellum ovate-oblung, 

 contracted below the apex, with 2 smooth globular callosities at the 

 base. Beak of the stigma short. 



In pastures. Very rare, and found only in the county of Cork. 

 The following account of its stations is given in the " Cybele 

 Hibernica," p. 286: — "At Dunboy, on the strand of the mainland, 

 opposite the Western Redoubt on Bear Island, Bantry Bay (Mr. J. 

 Drummond, 1810), ' Flor. Cork.' On a meadow sloping towards 

 Bearhaven (Mr. J. Woods, 1855). In a rushy meadow sloping to the 

 sea, west of Castletown, on rather dry ground (Dr. E. Percival 

 Wright)." 



Ireland. Perennial. Late Summer, Autumn. 



" Stem 5 to 15 inches high " (A. Gray). Leaves 3 to 4 inches long. 

 "Spike 1 to 4 inches long" (A. Gray). Perianth segments nearly -J inch 

 lung, turned upwards at the apex; labcUum about the same length, 



