132 oxLViii. oechidej:. (J. D. Hooker.) [Eahenaria. 



The structure of the stigma has been compendiously described by Bentham in the 

 Journal of the Linnsean Society (xviii. 356), and I agree with him in thinking that 

 to found genera on the modifications or even in the presence or absence of processes, 

 would lead to a violation of affinities. 



For observations on the Indian species referred to Orchis, see that genus. 



The characters which I have taken for the primary groups, marked A and B, 

 of lateral sepals reflexed spreading or deflexed, and erect or ascending, are in most 

 cases obvious; but in dried specimens of some species placed in Sect. V. it is 

 difficult to say whether the lateral sepals are reflexed naturally or accidentally, or 

 whether, though erect in early flowering, they afterwards spread. The root and its 

 tubers require investigation throughout the genus. 



The staminodes present great variety ; in most species they are mere warts on 

 the sides of the anther, but in several not otherwise allied they are linear or stylif orm 

 processes, attached either to the anther or base of the column, as in Diphylam and 

 Dithrix. 



At the end of the genus I have placed four monotypic sections founded on plants 

 differing remarkably in habit from any of their congeners ; some of these will, I 

 expect, eventually be regarded (and rightly) as monotypic genera, but in my present 

 imperfect knowledge of any but the Indian species of this very large genus, I prefer 

 keeping them as sections, awaiting their confirmation as genera under the authority 

 of a monographer of the whole tribe of Ophrydea. 



Kby to the Sections. 



A. Lateral sepals spreading deflexed or reflexed. 



In some smaU-flowered species of Sect. v. Peristylus, the lateral sepals appear 

 to be spreading or deflexed during or after flowering, and might hence be placed in 

 Sect. iii. 



Sect. I. Ate. Petals truncate 2-fid or 2-partite. Lip S-lobed or 

 -partite. (Sp. 1-14.) 



Sect. II. Plattslossa. Petals entire. Lip 3-lobed or -partite, side 

 lobes broad (narrow in H. platyphylla) petaloid, mid-lobe narrow. (Sp. 

 15-34.) 



Sect. III. TuiMEEOGLOSSA. Petals entire. Lip 3-partite, side lobes 

 very narrow, entire, usually filiform (lip entire in Peloria forms of M. 

 Mandersii and reniformis). (Sp. 35-66.) 



Sect. IV. HoLOGLOSSA. Petals entire. Lip entire^ linear. (Sp. 37-66.) 



B. Lateral sepals erect, or ascending parallel to the dorsal and petals, or 

 forming a hood with these, rarely at length spreading or deflexed. 



Sect. V. Pebisttlits. Petals entire. Lip usually 3-fid or 3-partite 

 (entire in M. breviloha).^Flowers usually very small, and petals broader 

 than the lateral sepals and often fleshy ; spur rarely exceeding the ovary, 

 usually very short or saccate. (Sp. 67-99.) 



Sect. VI. Phyllostachta. Petals entire. Lip broad, entire, petaloid ; 

 spur conioo-infundibular. Flowers large, in the axils of sheathing leaves ; 

 atigmatic processes ; rostellum obscure. (See also 32. S. triflora.) (Sp. 

 100-102.) 



ABEBEANT species (OB GENEEA ?) OP GKOUP B. 



VII. Plectoglossa. Flowers large, in the axils of imbricating leaves. 

 Lip coriaceous, clawed, 8-fid, longitudinally 3-plicate in bud, spur long 

 slender. Stigmatic processes large, rhomboid ; rostellum broad, triangular. 

 (Sp. 103.) 



