816 



THE ORCHID FAMILY. 



base, narrow-lanceolate or linear. Stem 

 rather taller than in the common S., and 

 the flowers rather larger. 



In bogs and marshes, chiefly in south- 

 ern Europe, extending over the greater 

 part of France, but scarcely into central 

 Germany. The only known British 

 stations are in a bog in the New Forest, 

 in Hampshire, and in the Channel Is- 

 lands. Fl. late in summer. 



Fig. 981. 



3. Drooping Spiranth. Spiranthes cernua, Eich. (Fig. 982.) 

 (Bot. Mag. t. 5277. S. gemmijoara, Lindl.) 



Hootstock producing a cluster of thin 

 cylindrical tubers. Stem leafy, attain- 

 ing 6 to 9 inches. Lower leaves at the 

 base of the stem lanceolate or spathu- 

 late, 2 to 3 inches long, spreading, the 

 upper ones smaller, erect, sheathing at 

 the base. Spike dense, 1 to 2 or even 

 nearly 3 inches long, the flowers white, 

 closely packed in 3 rows, much larger 

 than in the other two species, with a 

 broader lip. 



In bogs and marshes, having a very 

 extensive range in North America, but 

 unknown in Europe, except in a single 

 station in Ireland, in a bog at Bear- 

 haven, near Castletown, Cork county. 

 Fl. August and September. In the 

 above-quoted article of the * Botanical 

 Magazine ' will be found a full history of 

 this species, and of the reasons which have induced us to give up 

 the idea, adopted from Lindley in the first edition of this Handbook, 

 that it is peculiar to Ireland and distinct from the North American 

 S. cernua. 



Fig. 982. 



