Chap. V. 



MALAXIS PALUDOSA. 



129 



It is not my intention to describe the means of fertili- 

 sation in all these genera, but merely to select a few 

 curious cases which illustrate the foregoing descrip- 

 tions. The diversity of the contriyances adapted to 

 favour the intercrossing of flowers, seems to be ex- 

 haustless. 



MALAXEJj;, 



Malaxis paludosa.-^This rare orchid* is the sole 

 representative of the tribe in this country, and it is 

 the smallest of all the British species. The labellum 

 is turned upwards,! instead of downwards, so that it 

 does not afford a landing-place for insects as in most 

 other Orchids. Its lower margin clasps the column, 

 making the entrance into the flower tubular. From 



sion has given me his invaluable 

 advice, and has never become 

 weary of sending me specimens 

 from the Eoyal Gardens at Kew. 

 Mr. James Veitch, jun., has 

 generously given me many beau- 

 tiful Orchids, some of which were 

 of especial service. Mr. E. Parker 

 also sent me an extremely valu- 

 able series of forms. Lady Dorothy 

 Nevill moat kindly placed her 

 magnificent collection of Orchids 

 at my disposal. Mr. Kuoker of 

 West Hill, Wandsworth, seni me 

 repeatedly large spikes of Catase- 

 tum, a Mormodes of extreme value 

 and some Dendrobiums. Mr. 

 Bodgers of Sevenoaks has given 

 me interesting information. Mr. 

 Bateman, so well known for his 

 magnificent work on Orchids, 

 sent me a. number of interesting 

 forms, including the wonderful 

 Angrsecum sesquipedale. I am 

 greatly indebted to Mr. Turnbull 

 of Dowii for allowing me the free 

 use of his hothouses, and for 

 giving me some interesting Or- 

 chids ; and to his gardener, Mr. 



Horwood, for his aid in some of 

 my observations. 



Professor Oliver has kindly 

 assisted me with his large stores 

 of knowledge, and has called my 

 attention to several papers. LsJstly, 

 Dr. Lindley has sent me fresh 

 and dried specimens, and has in 

 the kindest manner helped me in 

 various ways. 



To these gentlemen I can only 

 express my cordial thanks for 

 their unwearied and generous 

 kindness. 



* I am greatly indebted to Mr. 

 Wallis, of Hartfield, in Sussex, 

 for numerous living specimens of 

 this Orchid. 



t Sir James Smith, I believe, 

 first noticed this fact in the 

 ' English Flora,' vol. iv. p. 47, 

 1828. Towards the summit of 

 the spike the lower Sepal does not 

 depend, as represented in the 

 woodcut (fig. 19, A), but projects 

 nearly at right angles. Nor are 

 the flowers always so completely 

 twisted round as here represented. 



