274 PETALOIDE^ 



Orchis latifoUa (Marsh Orchis) is a taller plant than the last, but 

 has, like it, palmated roots ; the leaves are remarkably erect ; 

 flowers rose-coloured or purple, and the brails, which taper to a fine 

 point, are longer than the flowers. It grows abundantly in marshes 

 and wet pastures, and blossoms in June arid July. All the above 

 species, especially 0. Mario, occasionally bear white flowers. 



0. mililaris (Military Orchis) is a rather tall f^i'owing species, 

 with purple, short-spurred flowers, found only in some of the south- 

 eastern counties bordering the Thames. 



0. ustidata (Dwarf Orchis). — A dwarf species, bearing dense 

 spikes of purple flowers, which are small and very short-spurred ; 

 the unexpanded floiiiers are of a remarkably dark purple. Chalky 

 hills ; not common. 



0. laxiflora (Loose Orchis). — Not unlike 0. mascnla, but the 

 leaves are narrow and unspotted ; flowers red, in a loose spike ; 

 bracts broad and veined. Found only in the Channel Isles. 



0. hircina (Lizard Orchis). — A very rare species, found only in 

 Kent and Suffolk. It grows 1-4 feet high, and is remarkable for its 

 loose spike of greenish flowers, spotted with red, lip very long, and 

 for its objectionable smell of goat. 



Gymnadenia conopsea (Sweet-scented Orchis) somewhat resembles 

 Orchis maculata ; the flowers are rose-purple, but not spotted, and 

 very fragrant ; the spur is very slender, and twice as long as the 

 ovary. It grows in dry, hilly, or mountainous pastures, and 

 flowers in June and July. 



Habenaria bifolia (Butterfly Orchis) is a singular plant, but not 

 appropriately named, for the resemblance which its flowers bear 

 to a butterfly is very slight. It bears two broad leaves immediately 

 above the root ; the stem is slender and angular, about a foot high, 

 and bears a loose cluster of greenish-while flowers, which are re- 

 markable for the length of the spur and for the strap-shaped lower 

 lip of the corolla. It grows on heaths and the borders of woods, 

 blooming in June. The flowers are fragrant in the evening. 



H. viridis (Green Ilabenaria or Frog Orchis) and H. albida (Small 

 White Habenaria) are smafl plants, from 6-8 inches high, the former 

 with green, very short spurred flowers ; the latter with flowers 

 which are white and fragrant. Neither is very common. 



H. intacta is a small species with often spotted leaves, and pink 

 or purple, sometimes white, short spurred flowers. Found only 

 in the west of Ireland. 



Listera ovata (Twayblade) grows from 12-18 inches high, and is 

 well marked by its bearing, about half-way up its cylindrical stem, 

 two opposite, egg-shaped leaves ; the flowers are small and green. 

 It is not uncommon in woods and orchards, and flowers in June. 



