MOORE ON VARIETIES OF ORCHIS LATIFOLIA AND 0. INCARNATA. 181 



The plant now before you, which under cultivation has increased a 

 little in the size of all its parts, has stems that measure upwards of twenty- 

 six inches from the root to the apex of the inflorescence, with light green 

 leaves, which arc two inches wide in the centre, and six inches long ; 

 spike of inflorescence five and a half inches from base to apex, among 

 which are wide partially- coloured bracts, longer than the flowers. It 

 differs from any of the varieties of Orchis latifolia which are figured in 

 " Icones Florae Germanicae ;" but it agrees pretty well with the figure of 

 that species in " Flora Danica,"* and also with the figure in Curtis' s 

 " Flora Londonensis,"f which latter is quoted by Reichenbach as a 

 synonym of his true 0. incamata. I have no doubt about it being one 

 of the series of forms which those so-called species 0. latifolia and 

 0. incamata assnme, differing only in the larger size of its parts and the 

 early period of the season when it flowers, being a month or six weeks 

 before the ordinary states bloom. I have, therefore, for the purpose of 

 distinguishing it as a variety, called it Orchis latifolia, var. prcecox major; 

 habitat — damp pasture field near Sandyford, county of Dublin ; flowers 

 early in May. 



The next variety I have to record as Irish is also a very remarkable 

 one. It is the Orchis latifolia, var. extensa (Hartmann) = 0. incamata, 

 var. extensa (Reichenbach). This is another of those extreme forms 

 which certainly belong to Orchis incamata. The leaves are very narrow, 

 gradually tapering from base to apex, ending in an acute point. The 

 form of root is also remarkable, there being scarcely any solid fleshy 

 portion, but consisting merely of long thick fibres, which extend them- 

 selves among the soft Sphagnum moss where it grows. It agrees so well 

 with Reichenbach's figure of the plant under the name I have quoted, J 

 that I need not further remark on it, but simply record its occurrence 

 in this country. I collected the specimens in July, 1859, at Killarney, 

 where they were growing in a soft Sphagnum marsh. 



Having now brought under the notice of the members two of the ex- 

 treme forms of those doubtful species of Orchis, I shall observe, before con- 

 cluding, that the forms called 0. latifolia appear to be more abundant in 

 Ireland than those which are referred to 0. incamata. A plant very similar 

 to that figured by Reichenbach§ under the name of Orchis latifolia, var. 

 lagotes, is our common marshy meadow plant, which is general through 

 Ireland, sometimes having leaves with dark spots on them, but as often 

 plain, without spots. 



Dr. Moore's paper was illustrated by fine living examples, in full 

 bloom, of the new form designated by him, as above, Orchis latifolia, 

 var. prcecox major, and by dried specimens of the other form alluded to, 

 found at Killarney, var. extensa (Reichenbach). Dr. Moore also showed 

 a growing plant of the old 0. latifolia (" Marsh Orchis"), having its 



"Flora Danica," t. 266. f "Flora Londonensis," fasc. 5, Fig. 65. 



"Icones Floras Germanicae," t. 13, 399. § Op. cit. 13, t. 403. 



