438 THE ORCHID FAMILY. [Epipactis. 



of which the lower ones are often longer than the flowers. Flowers 

 pendulous, in a long, 1-sided raceme, varying in colour from green to 

 a dingy purple. Sepals ovate -lanceolate, about 3 or 4 lines long. Petals 

 rather smaller. Lip rather small, the lower portion very short. 



In woods and shady places, dispersed over Europe and temperate Asia, 

 except the extreme north. Not unfrequent in Britain, but often appear- 

 ing only in single specimens. Fl. summer, rather late. [The upper leaves, 

 colour of the flowers, and the form of the terminal lobe of the lip are all 

 very variable in Britain, giving rise to many varietal or specific names, 

 as viridiflora, Hoffm. ; purpurata, Sm. ; media, Fries ; violacea, Bor. ; 

 atrorubens, Hoffm. ; ovalis, Crantz ; and rubiginosa, Crantz.] 



2. E. palustris, Sw. (fig. 985). Marsh E.— Not so tall as E. latifolia, 

 the leaves narrower, usually lanceolate, and the bracts all shorter than 

 the flowers. Racemes loose, but much closer than in E. latifolia, and 

 not 1 -sided ; the flowers larger, slightly drooping. Sepals lanceolate, 

 of a pale greenish-purple. Petals rather shorter, white, more or less 

 streaked with pink at the base. Lip of the colour of the petals, but 

 longer even than the sepals, distinctly divided into two portions, the 

 lower one thick and half-clasping the column. 



In moist and marshy places, especially in limestone districts, and near 

 the sea, in Europe and Russian Asia, except the extreme north. Widely 

 spread over Britain, and abundant in particular spots, yet not a common 

 plant, and rare in Scotland and Ireland. Fl. summer. 



V. CEPHALANTHERA. HELLEBORINE. 



Habit and foliage of Epipactis, but the flowers are sessile, erect, and 

 usually larger, white or red, the petals and sepals not so spreading, the 

 lip has no protuberances at the base of the upper portion, the column 

 is longer, and the anther is shortly stalked. 



A small European and north Asiatic genus, united by some with 

 Epipactis, whilst others place it in a different tribe of Orchids on account 

 of the slight difference in the position of the anther. 



Flowers white or cream-colour. 



Leaves broad. Lower bracts longer than the flower, and all 



longer than the ovary 1. G. pollens. 



Leaves narrow. All the bracts shorter than the ovary . . . 2. C. ensifolia. 

 Flowers red 3. C. rubra. 



1. O. pallens, Rich. (fig. 986). Large or White H. — Rootstock 

 fibrous. Stem 1 to 1| feet high. Leaves prominently veined as in 

 Epipactis ; the lower ones broadly ovate, the upper ones rather broadly 

 lanceolate. Flowers rather large, of a yellowish white or cream- 

 coloured, in a loose, leafy spike, all the bracts being longer than the 

 ovary, and the lower ones quite leaf -like and longer than the flowers. 

 Sepals 6 to 8 or even 9 lines long, oblong, and usually obtuse, rather 

 open. Petals rather shorter, close over the column. Lip small, of two 

 distinct portions, the lower one embracing the column, the terminal one 

 recurved at the tip. C. grandiflora, Bab. 



In woods and thickets, in Europe, extending northward to Denmark. 

 In Britain, scattered over various parts of England. Fl. early summer. 



2. O. ensifolia, Rich. (fig. 987). Narrow H. — Very near O. grandiflora, 



