Aceras.] LXXXI. ORCHIDACEiE. 447 



In dry pastures, in southern Europe, rarer in western Germany and 

 France. In Britain, only in eastern England. FL early summer. 



XIV. HERMINIUM. MUSK ORCHIS. 



Small-flowered plants, nearly allied to Habenaria, but the perianth has 

 no spur, the anther-cells are distant at their bases, and the glands of the 

 stalks of the pollen-masses protrude below the cells as in that genus. 



A genus of very few species, from the high northern or alpine regions 

 of Europe and Asia. 



1. H. Monorchis, Br. (fig. 1012). Mush Orchis. — A slender plant, 

 seldom above 6 inches high, with 2 or very seldom 3 oblong or lanceo- 

 late, radical leaves. Tubers nearly globular, like those of an Orchis, but 

 the new one, instead of being produced close to the stem, is formed at 

 the end of one of the fibres proceeding from the crown, thus forming 

 a creeping rootstock. Spike slender, with numerous, small, yellowish- 

 green flowers. Sepals erect or scarcely spreading, and narrow. Petals 

 narrower and rather longer, instead of being shorter as in most British 

 Orchids. Lip scarcely longer, erect, hollowed into a kind of pouch at 

 the base, but not spurred, with 3 narrow entire lobes. 



In hilly pastures, in central, northern, Arctic, and the mountains of 

 southern Europe, and in temperate Asia. Very local in Britain, chiefly 

 in the southern and eastern counties of England, and unknown in 

 Scotland or Ireland. FL summer. 



XV. OPHRYS. OPHRYS. 



Habit, tubers, and foliage of an Orchis, but the flowers have no spur, 

 and the lip is usually very convex, resembling more or less the body of 

 an insect. Anther-cells distant at the base, protruding below the rest 

 of the anther in 2 distinct little pouches enclosing the glands of the 

 pollen-masses. 



A small genus, chiefly from the Mediterranean region, with a very 

 few species spreading into central Europe. The forms assumed by the 

 lip and its markings are so very variable that the accurate distinction 

 of species, especially of the southern ones, is a matter of great doubt 

 and difficulty. 



Lip of the perianth as broad as long or nearly so, and scarcely 

 longer than the sepals. 

 End lobe of the lip much turned under. Sepals usually pink . 1. 0. apifera. 

 Lip slightly lobed, the edges scarcely turned under. Sepals 



green 2. 0. aranifera 



Lip of the perianth oblong, considerably longer than the sepals . 3. 0. muscifera. 



1. O. apifera, Huds. (fig. 1013). Bee 0.— Tubers entire. Stem 9 to 

 18 inches high, with a few oblong or lanceolate leaves near the base, 

 and from 3 to 6 rather large, distant flowers, in a long, loose spike, 

 each with a bract at least as long as the ovary. Sepals ovate, pink, 

 pale green, or white, but always tinged with pink, very spreading or 

 reflexed. Petals smaller, usually narrow, nearly erect. Lip broad, very 

 convex, of a rich velvety brown, downy on the sides, smooth in the 

 middle, and variously marked by paler lines or spots ; the lobes small 



