0RCHIDACE3S. 



821 



4. Early Orchis. Orchis mascula, Linn. (Fig. 987.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 631.) 



Stem 1 to 1J feet high, with nume- 

 rous showy flowers, in a loose spike 3 to 

 6 inches long, varying from a bright 

 pinkish-purple to flesh- colour or even 

 white. Tubers entire. Leaves rather 

 broad and often spotted. Bracts co- 

 loured, nearly as long as the ovary, with 

 a single nerve. The upper sepal and 

 petals converging over the ovary, but the 

 lateral sepals spreading, or turned back. 

 Lip scarcely longer than the sepals, often 

 slightly downy in the centre, reflexed on 

 each side, with 3 short lobes, the middle 

 one the largest and more or less notched. 



In moist woods, meadows, and shady 

 places, in central and southern Europe, 

 extending eastward to the Caucasus and 

 northward to southern Scandinavia. 

 Generally distributed over Britain. Fl, 

 spring and early summer. 



Fig. 987. 



5. Loose Orchis, Orchis laxiflora, Lam, (Eig. 988.) 

 (Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2828.) 



Near the early 0., but the leaves are 

 narrow-lanceolate or linear ; the flowers 

 rather larger, of a rich red, in a much 

 looser spike ; the bracts broader and 

 always more veined ; and the 3 sepals 

 are spreading or reflexed, the petals 

 alone converging over the column. 



In moist meadows, common in south- 

 ern Europe, extending into central Ger- 

 many and over the greater part of Erance. 

 In the British Isles, confined to Jersey 

 and Guernsey. Fl, spring and early 

 summer. 



Fig. 988. 



