824 



THE OftCHID FAMILY. 



9. Pyramidal Orchis. Orchis pyramidalis, Linn. (Fig. 992.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 110.) 



Tubers entire. Stem a foot high or 

 rather more, with lanceolate leaves, 

 usually narrow and pointed. Spike very 

 dense, ovoid or oblong, 2 to 3 or even 4 

 inches long ; the flowers not very large, 

 but of a rich rose- or purplish-red, either 

 scentless or with a disagreeable odour, 

 and remarkable for their very slender 

 spur, longer than the ovary, although 

 that is long in proportion to the rest of 

 the flower. Sepals lanceolate, spread- 

 ing. Petals converging over the column. 

 Lip broad, 3-lobed, the lobes equal or 

 the middle one narrower. 



On rather dry banks, and pastures, 

 chiefly in limestone districts, in central 

 and southern Europe, extending east- 

 ward to the Caucasus and northward to 

 Denmark. Abundant in several parts 

 of England and Ireland, and occurs in a 



few localities in southern Scotland. FL all summer. 



Fig. 992. 



10. Fragrant Orchis. Orchis conopsea, Linn. (Fig. 993.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 10. Gymnadenia, Erit. Fl.) 



Tubers palmate as in the spotted O. 

 Stem 1 to 2 feet high, with linear or 

 narrow-lanceolate leaves. Spike oblong 

 or cylindrical, not so dense as in the 

 pyramidal O. Flowers much like those 

 of that species, but rather smaller, sweet- 

 scented, and the slender spur is still 

 longer. 



In heaths and pastures, throughout 

 Europe and Russian Asia, especially in 

 the north, extending to the Arctic re- 

 gions ; in the south of Europe more 

 confined to mountain districts. Dis- 

 persed all over Britain, and very abun- 

 dant in Scotland and Ireland. Fl. all 

 iMlLJW % summer. This and the last two species 

 are occasionally removed to as many dis- 

 tinct genera on account of slight diffe- 

 Fig. 993. rences in the pollen-masses. 



