fil4 THE OECHID TAMILT. 



an insect. Anther-cells distant at the base, protruding below the rest 

 of the anther in 2 distinct little pouches enclosing the glands of the pollen- 

 masses. 



A small genus, chiefly from the Mediterranean region, with a very few 

 species spreading into central Europe. The forms assumed by the lip and 

 its markings are so very vai-iable that the accurate distinction of species, 

 esijecially of the southern ones, is a matter of great doubt and difficulty. 



Lip of the perianth as broad as long or nearly so, and scarcely longer 

 than the sepals. 



End lobe of the lip much turned under. Sepals usually pink . . . \. Bee O. 



Lip slightly lobed, the edges scarcely turned under. Sepals green . 2. Spider O. 

 Lip of the perianth oblong, considerably longer than the sepals . . . ^. Fly O, 



1. Bee Ophrys. Ophrys apifera, Huds. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 383, O. arachnites, Suppl. t. 2596.) 



Tubers entire. Stem 9 to 18 inches liigh, with a few oblong or lanceolate 

 leaves near the base, and from 3 to 6 rather large, distant flowers, in a long, 

 loose spike, each with a bract at least as long as the ovai-y. Sepals ovate, 

 pink, pale green, or white, but always tinged with pink, very spreading or 

 reflexed. Petals smaller, usually narrow, nearly erect. Lip broad, very 

 convex, of a rich velvety-brown, downy on the sides, smooth in the middle, 

 and variously marked by paler lines or spots ; the lobes small and all 

 turned down, 2 lateral ones very downy, 3 terminal ones concealed under 

 the li)), the middle one often again turned upwards, but very variable m 

 length. Column erect, with a distmct curved beak above the anther. 



In dry pastures, usually in limestone districts, in central and southern 

 Europe, not further north than central Germany and Belgium. In Britabi, 

 chiefly in the southern and eastern counties of England, occurring more 

 sparingly in other parts of England and in Ireland, but not in Scotland. 

 Fl. early summer. 



2. Spider Ophrys. Ophrys aranifera, Huds. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 65, O.fucifera, Suppl. t. 2649.) 



Much like the bee O., but the sepals are green with less of pink, the 

 petals vei"y short, the beak of the column is straight, and the Up is broader, 

 of a dull brown, variously marked witli paler spots in the centre, convex as 

 in the hee O., but the edges obsciu-ely or very shortly lobed, and either not 

 turned under or but very slightly so. 



In dry pastures, with nearly the same range as the hee O., rather more 

 common in southern Europe, less so northwards. Much more rare in 

 England than the bee O., and unknown in Ireland. FL sprinff and early 

 summer. 



3. Ply Ophrys. Ophrys muscifera, Huds. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 64.) 



A much more slender plant than the two preceding species, with narrow 

 leaves, and a slender spike of 3 or 4 flowers. Sepals oblong or nai-row-ovate, 

 greenish. Petals very narrow-linear. Column short, without any beak. 

 Lip much longer than the sepals, oblong, convex, of a purphsh brown, with 

 pale-blue or white marks in the centre ; the 2 lateral lobes turned down, the 

 central one larger, with a deep notch. 



On dry pastures, in central Europe, extending further east than the two 

 last species, but not near so common in the south. In Britain, spread over 



