180 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN. 



The following paper was then read : — 



Notes on a Supposed New Variety op Orchis latipolia (Linn.), and 

 on Orchis incarnata, var. Extensa (Eeichenbach). By David 

 Moore, Ph.D., E. L. S., M. E. I. A. 



In the " Supplement to English Botany,"* Orchis latifolia of Linnaeus' 

 " Species Plantarum" is figured, and the description which accom- 

 panies the figure is supplied by Professor Bahington, of Cambridge. 

 He there states that the plant, which has long been called 0. latifolia 

 by English botanists, is not the true Linnsean species, but is Orchis 

 incarnata (Linn.), and of the Continental botanists. The mistake in 

 this country appears to have been originally made by the late Sir J. E. 

 Smith, who applied the former name to the latter plant, and who has 

 been followed by British botanists, until both species were distinguished 

 by Leighton.f They have, however, constantly been kept separate as 

 distinct species in most of the Continental Floras, and Professor Reich- 

 enbach has figured a very instructive series of their varieties. \ In 

 Ireland they have not, that I am aware of, been hitherto distinguished 

 as distinct species, nor even as varieties, though forms of both occur in 

 this country, a circumstance which warrants me in bringing this short 

 notice of them before the Society. 



In May, 1856, when botanizing in the neighbourhood of Sandyford, 

 county of Dublin, I observed, in a meadow, plants of a large Orchis 

 flowering at that early period of the season. The size of the plant and 

 time of flowering together at once attracted my attention, and led me 

 to dig up some of the plants with their roots, which were planted in 

 the Botanic Garden, where they have continued to grow ever since that 

 time. The splendid examples now on the table are two of those plants ; 

 but, for the purpose of satisfying my own mind, I went again to the 

 same place one afternoon last week, to try if I could rediscover the 

 plant. The field where it grew was grazed very bare by cattle, 

 so that I had little chance of getting it ; but, after considerable search, 

 I found the small specimen now before you, which, though not half 

 the size of the larger, is at once recognisable as the same form of 

 plant. 



When I first saw it in 1856, I could hardly persuade myself that it 

 was any form of our old Orchis latifolia ; and even after cultivating it 

 for several years it continues so different in general aspect that, I was 

 induced to send a plant to Professor Babington, and ask his opinion on 

 it. In reply to my commuication he states — ' I believe that the Orchis 

 is a very broad-leaved state of the Orchis latifolia, &c. ;' i. e., the plant 

 lately figured in ' Supplement to English Botany. '§ I may, however, 

 remark that if it is so, it seems a very different form from the figure 

 given there. 



* " Supplement to Eng. Bot.," September, 1863. t " Flora of Shropshire." 



% " Icones Florae Germanicae." § Op. cit., t. 2973. 



