26 • OPHEEiE. Chap. L 



they are removed from their cells, they do not di- 

 verge, but become depressed, sweeping through an 

 angle of ninety degrees, in about thirty seconds. They 

 are then in a proper position for striking the single 

 large stigma which lies beneath the rostellum. In the 

 case of 0. pyramidalis we have seen that the depression 

 of the two poUinia is effected by the contraction of 

 the disc in front of each, two furrows or valleys being 

 there formed ; whilst with the present species, the 

 whole front of the disc contracts or sinks down, the 

 iront part being thus separated from the hinder part 

 by an abrupt step. 



Aceras* (Orchis) anthropophora. — The caudicles of 

 the pollinia are unusually short ; the nectary consists 

 of two minute rounded depressions in the labellum; 

 the stigma is transversely elongated; and lastly the 

 two viscid discs lie so close together within the ros- 

 tellum that they affect each other's outline. This 

 latter fact is worth notice, as a step towards the two 

 becoming absolutely confluent, as in the following 

 species of Aceras, in 0. fyramidalis and Jiireina. 

 Nevertheless, in Aceras a single pollinium is some- 

 times removed by insects, though more rarely than 

 with the other species of Orchis. 



Aceras {Orchis) longihracteata. — Mr. Moggridge has 

 given an interesting account, together with a figure, 

 of this plant which grows in the South of France.f 

 The pollinia are attached to a single yiscid disc. 

 When they are removed they do not diverge as in 

 0. pyramidalis, but converge and then undergo the 



* The separation of this genus oocurrence of numerous hybrids, 



is evidently artificial. It is a true natumlly produced, between this 



Orchis, but with a very short Aceras and Orcliis galeata. 



nectary. Dr. Weddell has de- f 'Joum. Linn. Soc. Bot' 



scribed (' Annales des So. Nat.,' vol. viii. 1865, p. 256. He gives 



3 ser. Bot. torn, xviii. p. 6) the also a figure of Orchis hircina. 



