IRIDACE^ 273 



Dry, stony hills and mountain thickets ; rare, and especially rare 

 in Switzerland. Widely spread in France. June. 



Distribution. — Central and Southern Europe, Corsica, Caucasus, 

 Asia Minor. 



E-pipactis palusiris Crantz. Marsh Epipactis. 



Plant glabrous, about 8-12 inches high. Leaves narrow-lanceo- 

 late. Bracts shorter than the flowers. Racemes very loose, few- 

 flowered and not unilateral. Flowers large and very beautiful, 

 white variegated with green, orange, and purple. Terminal lobe 

 of lip blunt and rounded. 



Marshes and moist meadows, reaching at least 4000 feet in the 

 Alps ; sometimes in large quantities. June, July. 



Distribution. — Europe, especially Central ; Western and Northern 

 Asia. British. 



Orchids are generally considered difficult to cultivate, and many 

 have a reputation for not flowering when transplanted. But 

 . if they are never moved when in flower or making growth, but in 

 the early autumn, they are much more likely to succeed. A moist 

 loam and peat suits most, but others require lime mixed with the 

 loam instead of peat. All require a deep soil. It is much to be 

 hoped, however, that collectors will leave alone not only many 

 of the British species, but all the rarer ones which grow in the Alps. 

 Those which are parasitic are particularly difficult to cultivate, 

 and are best avoided. 



IRIDACE^ 



Perennial herbs, with bulbous, tuberous, or shortly creeping 

 rootstock, frequently ensiform leaves and regular flowers with 

 2 bracts. Perianth 6-lobed. Stamens 3. Style simple. Stigmas 

 often dilated. Fruit a 3-celled capsule. 



About 100 species. Europe, temperate Asia, Africa, and America. 



Crocus L. 

 Crocus albiflorus Kit. 



This includes C. vernus All., which some botanists have con- 

 sidered a separate species. 



Corm covered with dry membranous scales, scape enveloped 

 in a sheath. Leaves grass-like, recurved at margin. Stigmas 

 orange, shorter than the perianth segments. Perianth 6-lobed. 

 Flowers opening before or with the leaves, immediately the snow 

 begins to disappear, white or violet, the white form having a 

 yellowish tube. ' 



Alpine and sub-alpine pastures up to 7600 feet, often in^ great 

 profusion. April to June, according to situation. 



