SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



175 



VARIATIONS IN ORCHIS MACULATA. 

 By G, H. Bryan, Sc.D.. F.R.S. 



TOURING the course of an expedition to North 

 ^"^ Wales, I was much struck with the great 

 variety, both in the form and in the markings, of 

 thelabellum of the common orchid, Orchis macnlata. 

 In the British flora it appears not to be usual to 

 distinguish the different forms as varieties, though 



The accompanying drawings were very carefully 

 made on the spot. It will be generally noticed that 

 specimens growing in damp, shady places have 

 the paler flowers, and have the edges of the lateral 

 lobes very crenulated, the middle lobe being in some 

 cases almost insignificant. On the other hand, dry 





Variations in the Labellum of Orchis Maculata. 



the difference between extreme types is quite as 

 conspicuous as the distinction between 0. lati folia 

 and 0. incarnata. In their " Flore Fran^aise," 

 however, Messrs Gillet et Magne distinguish the 

 following varieties in addition to the typical 

 maculata : — 



Flowers small; labellum with throe 

 nearly equal lobes 



Middle lobe of the labellum elongated, 

 the lateral ones rounded, entire ... 



var. trilobata 



sunny meadows and hedges seem to conduce to the 

 development of forms possessing more regular 

 purple markings and having the middle lobe more 

 conspicuous, and the lateral ones often with smooth 

 edges. There is also a considerable variability in 

 the spots on the leaves. A complete classification 

 of all the varietal forms occurring in this variable 

 plant would form a pleasant task for a summer 

 vacation. 



Cambridge ; October, 1896. 



