134 INTERESTING PLANTS OF ALPINE PASTURES 



common in shady places in the Subalpine zone, though 

 rarely found in the higher region. 



The Orchids are abundant in the Alps in three 

 types of habitat : (1) very wet, marshy, or boggy 

 places, especially where some rivulet is running 

 sluggishly; (2) steep banks in the pastures, which, 

 on the other hand, appear at least superficially to be 

 rather dry habitats ; (3) in the forests. Many of the 

 Orchids flourishing in these situations are British 

 plants, such as the Spotted Orchis {Orchis maculata, 

 Linn.), the Frog Orchid {Hahenaria viridis, E. Br.), 

 and the Fragrant Habenaria {H. conopsea, Benth.). 

 We will here notice two Swiss Orchids, the Black 

 Nigritella {Nigritella angustifolia, Rich. = N. nigra, 

 Reichb.) (Plate XXXI., Fig. 1), and its near relative 

 the Lesser Butterfly Orchid {Hahenaria bifolia, R. 

 Br.) (Plate XXXI., Fig. 2). The latter is a frequent 

 British plant, while the former does not occur 

 with us. 



The Black Nigritella. 



The Black Nigritella is one of the best known of 

 Swiss Alpines and is a universal favourite. The little 

 conical heads (really dense spikes) of blackish-red 

 flowers are quite unmistakable. They are often very 

 abundant in the pastures in all sorts of situations, 

 especially on steep banks. 



It is worth while to dig up a plant of Nigritella 

 and to examine it closely. If we unearth it carefully, 

 we shall find, buried deep in the soil, a short stem. 



