OECHIBACEiE. 



283 



given to have been able to transport a single panicle to a 

 Chiswiek/efe.'" 



The structure of the flower of the Orchis is very curious, 

 Dr. Lindley describes it as owing its chief peculiarities to 

 the following circumstances :— the stamens and pistil are 

 consolidated into one common mass called the column, two 

 of the three anthers are rarely perfect ; the pollen is powdery, 

 or adhering in wedges tied together by an elastic material, 

 or consolidated into masses of a waxy nature ; the flower is 

 divided into six parts, which are adherent, variable in form, 

 herbaceous or coloured, generally placed in two rows, the 

 lower having two lateral and one dorsal part, which may be 

 called the calyx ; the other parts may be considered the pe- 

 tals, the centre one of which differs from the rest in form 

 and size, and is called the lip ; it is either horned, or fur- 

 nished with various appendages, free or adherent, occa- 

 sionally moving as if spontaneously, sometimes contracted ; 

 in short, assuming greatly varied forms and characters, even 

 that of growing from the apex of the column. The very 

 irregular form of the whole flower renders it very interesting, 

 in many cases representing with some exactness insects, as 

 bees, butterflies, and even scorpions, spiders, and in some 

 instances a helmet with the visor up. Dr. Lindley also men- 



