perfection at this prefent time, June 1, 1794; 1s the pride of my garden at Brompton: this muft be regarded 
as the true aracbzes of Linn aus, fince it is indifputably the fame as the one figured by VaiLraNwr, to 
which he refers, and the Orchis araneam referens of C. Baunine, to which he alfo refers ; indeed as fuch it is 
admitted by Profeflor Murray, in the 14th edition of the Sy/fema Vegetab. with a fuitable fpecific defcription 
according with that of HaArrLEm. -It is evident that Mr. Hupsow, when he gave to the fpecies here figured, 
the name of aranifera (a term fynonymous with that of arachnites) and which he was the firft to. defcribe 
fpecifically in the Linnean flyle (though Ray in his 5yzop//; had pointed out its flriking charafter) regarded 
the arachnites of Linnzus and the $ variety of it as the fame fpecies, from his referring to two different 
figures in VaiLLANT for his plant; this he ought not to have done, but following Linn aus’s reference to 
Bauuine, have felected the term fucifera, which we have been under the neceflity of domg, rather than be 
fubje&t to the confufion arifing from having two different plants called by fynonymous terms. 
Our plant is the Ophrys, commonly known in this country by the name of the Bee Orchis with green, 
wings, the petals being altogether of an herbaceous colour; while in the apzfera, already figured, three of 
them are pale purple; as they differ in colour, fo do they alfo very materially in fhape, and as thefe differences 
are invariable, any other mark of difcrimination is almoft fuperfluous, yet we may obferve, that they flower 
at two very different periods, the fucifera has fometimes been found in mild feafons in bloom as early as 
March, in late ones in May, while the apzfera rarely flowers till the end of June or beginning of July. 
Some authors have fancied that the flowers of this plant bore a refemblance to a, bee or a fpider, it muft 
be confeffed that much of this fimilitude depends on the imagination; others have difcovered a more real 
likenefs to a {mall bird in each flower: this appearance will be obvious to our readers on infpeéting the plate. 
When a trifling likenefs of this fort has occurred in plants, or animals, the old authors generally improved on 
it; even Tournerort’s figure of this part of our plant is fomewhat owsré in this refpect. 
In this fpecies the ne&tary, which at firft is of a bright and very rich brown colour, foon changes to a faded 
yellow green; when the flowering is over, the petals incline forward, and clofe over the neétary. 
"Though the Opbr. apifera is found abundantly near London, this fpecies has not yet been obferved equally 
near; we have feen it growing, though very fparingly, in the chalk pits near Leatherhead ; in the neighbourhood 
of Bury, in Suffolk; alfo, about Cambridge it 1s found fome years in great abundance:. from the former 
place we have been favoured with roots of it by Sir Tu. G. Curruw, Bart. and from the latter by Profeffor 
 ManTYN, and the Rev. J. Daviszs, of Trinity-College: it has been obferved alfo in various other parts of the 
kingdom, 
Such as delight in the culture of flowers will be pleafed to find, that with a little attention and management 
they may fucceed in making this plant grow and flower with them more freely than many of the tribe; we 
recommend to them the following method, which we have found fuccefsful : take up the roots carefully when 
in flower, bare them no more than is neceffary to remove every other kind of root about them, fill a large- 
fized garden pot with three parts choice loam moderately ftiff, and one part chalk mixed well together and 
paífed through a fieve fomewhat finer than a common cinder fieve, in this mixture place your roots at about 
the depth of two inches, and three inches apart, water them occafionally durmg fummer if the weather 
rove dry, at the approach of winter place your pot in a frame under a glafs to keep them from wet and 
froft, which combined deftroy the beauty of the foliage, if not the plant itfelf ; in the autumn, before any of 
the others make their appearance, you will perceive.the leaves of this fpecies emerge, much fooner indeed 
than might be expected, . 
