OECHIDACE^. 511 



or very obscurely 3-lobecl, and the spur thicker ; but these characters are 

 none of them quite constant. 



With the same geographical range as the spotted O., it is usually found in 

 moister situations or richer soUs. Frequent in Britain, but not so abun- 

 dant as the spotted O. Fl. sjiriiic/ and early summer. A variety with nar- 

 rower leaves, more regularly tapering from the base, has been distinguished 

 under the name of 0. incarnata. 



8. laizard Orchis. Orchis hircina, Scop. 

 {Satyrium, Eng. Bot. t. 34.) 



A stout species, 1 to 2 feet high, with entire tubers and a leafy stem. 

 Spike dense, 4 to 6 or even 8 inches high ; the ilowers rather large, of a dirty 

 greenish-white, witli a disagreeable smell, and remarkable for their long, 

 linear lip ; the 2 lateral lobes short, the middle one more than an inch long, 

 roUed inwards in the bud, entire or notched at the tip ; the sepals converging 

 over the column, and the petals small as in the green-winged O. and the 

 military O. 



Wiclely spread over central and southern Europe, but everywhere rather 

 scarce, and often only in single speeuuens, not extending into northern Grer- 

 inany. In Britain, it has been found in Kent and Surrey, but not of late 

 years. Fl. summer. 



9. Pyramidal Orchis. Orchis pyramidalis, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 110.) 



Tubers entire. Stem a foot high or rather more, with lanceolate leaves, 

 usually narrow and pointed. Spike very dense, ovoid or oblong, 2 to 3 or 

 even 4 inches long ; the flowers not very large, but of a rich rose- or purplish- 

 red, either scentless or with a disagreeable odour, and remarkable for their 

 very slender spur, longer than the ovary, although that is long in proportion 

 to the rest of the flower. Sepals lanceolate, spreading. Petals converging 

 over the column. Lip broad, 3-lobed, the lobes equal or the middle one 

 narrower. 



On rather dry banks, and pastures, chiefly in hmestone districts, in central 

 and southern Eui-ope, extending eastward to the Caucasus and northward 

 to Denmark. Abundant in several parts of England and Ireland, and occurs 

 in a few localities in southern Scotland. Fl. all summer. 



10. Fra^ant Orchis. Orchis conopsea, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 10. Ch/mnadenia, Brit. Fl.) 



Tubers palmate as in the spotted 0. Stem 1 to 2 feet high, with linear 

 or narrow-lanceolate leaves. Spike oblong or cylindrical, not so dense as in 

 the pyramidal O. Flowers much hke those of that species, but rather 

 smaller, sweet-scented, and the slender spur is still longer. 



In heaths and pastures, throughout Europe and Russian Asia, especially 

 in the north, extending to the Arctic regions; in the south of Europe more 

 confined to mountain districts. Dispersed all over Britain, and very abun- 

 dant in Scotland and Ireland. Fl. all summer. This and the two last 

 species are occasionally removed to as many distinct genera on account of 

 slight differences in the pollen-masses. 



