Malax is longifolia. 15 



The opinion of the identity of this plant with Malaxis Loeselii, 

 (Ophrys,) is decidedly erroneous. If there beany fidelity in botanical 

 figures and description, those given in the best works of Ophrys Loe- 

 selii should never lead any one to confound the two plants. In the third 

 volume of the Flora Batava, there is a fine figure of the European 

 plant; and in English Botany, Vol. i. Plate 47, there is another good 

 representation of this rare European Malaxis. In these figures the 

 spike is twice the length of the leaves — the flowers differently 

 constructed — the stem or scape triangular instead of four-sided as in 

 Malaxis longifolia, and the petals not horizontal. The spike is fewer- 

 flowered than in the present plant. 



Fig. 1. Represents a plant of the largest size in flower of Malaxis 

 longifolia. 



2. A flower separated and magnified. 



