ORCHIDACEiE. 



829 



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 

 and all turned down, 2 lateral ones very 

 downy, 3 terminal ones concealed under 

 the lip, the middle one often again 

 turned upwards, but very variable in 

 length. Column erect, with a distinct 

 curved beak above the anther. 



In dry pastures, usually in limestone 

 districts, in central and southern Eu- 

 rope, not further north than central 

 Germany and Belgium. In Britain, 

 chiefly in the southern and eastern counties of England, occurring 

 more sparingly in other parts of England and in Ireland, but not in 

 Scotland. FL early summer. 



Fig. 999. 



2. Spider Ophrys. Ophrys aranifera, Huds. (Eig. 1000.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 65, O.fucifera, Suppl. t. 2649.) 



Much like the bee O., but the sepals 

 are green with less of pink, the petals 

 very short, the beak of the column is 

 straight, and the lip is broader, of a dull 

 brown, variously marked with paler 

 spots in the centre, convex as in the 

 bee 0., but the edges obscurely or very 

 shortly lobed, and either not turned 

 under, or but very slightly so. 



In dry pastures, with nearly the same 

 range as the bee 0., rather more com- 

 mon in southern Europe, less so north- 

 wards. Much more rare in England 

 than the bee 0., and unknown in Ire- 

 land. FL spring and early summer. 



Fig. 1000. 



