822 



THE ORCHID FAMILY. 



6. Spotted Orchis. Orchis maculata, Linn. (Fig. 989.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 632.) 



Tubers rather flat, and divided into 2 

 or 3 finger-like lobes. Stem usually 

 about a foot high. Leaves varying from 

 nearly ovate to narrow-lanceolate, and 

 often marked with dark spots. Flowers 

 in a dense oblong spike, 2 or 3 inches 

 long, usually of a rather pale pink, but 

 varying much in depth of colour. Bracts 

 marked with several veins, the lowest 

 almost always longer than the ovary, 

 the upper ones shorter. Sepals about 

 3 lines long, either all or the two lateral 

 ones only spreading, whilst the petals 

 arch over the column. Lip broadly 

 orbicular, either flat or the sides re- 

 flexed, usually more or less toothed and 

 irregularly 3-lobed, variously spotted or 

 variegated with a deeper colour, the 

 middle lobe usually small. Spur rather 

 slender, a little shorter than the ovary. 

 In meadows, pastures, and open woods, throughout Europe and 

 Russian Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic regions. Abun- 

 dant in Britain. Fl. spring and early summer. It varies very much 

 in the breadth of the leaves, the size of the bracts, the colour of the 

 flower, and the shape of the lip, sometimes approaching very near to 

 the marsh O. 



Fig. 989. 



7. Marsh Orchis. Orchis latifolia, Linn. (Fig. 990.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 2308.) 



Yery near the spotted 0., and by some botanists considered as a 

 mere variety. It is usually more luxuriant, the stem more hollow, the 

 leaves larger and not always spotted, the spike longer and more leafy, 

 the lower bracts, and sometimes nearly all, as long as or longer than 

 the flowers, the flowers are usually deeper-coloured and less varie- 

 gated, the lip toothed only or very obscurely 3-lobed, and the spur 

 thicker ; but these characters are none of them quite constant. 



