54 



■afforded Mr. Sherring and myself much food for reflection. For 

 some years this plant has been noticed by us, and, while I have 

 -a specimen from a Studland bog, dated 1909, and labelled 

 O. incarnata, L., forma, for want of a better name, Mr. Sherring 

 has, I believe, an earlier record from the same locality. However, 

 it is now evident that Mr. Druce has also noticed some distinctions 

 between this plant and O. latifolia, L. and 0. incarnata, L. (with 

 which it is closely allied), and, with his usual acumen, has caught 

 these specific differences and given us a new name. For full 

 description see " Journal of Botany" for June, 1915. Fortunately 

 Purbeck is well represented in this matter, for several localities 

 have been observed, and Mr. Druce has been good enough to 

 verify specimens sent up. Malaxis paludosa, Sw. , the Bog Orchis, 

 an unique little gem in its way, has one or two stations with us, 

 but I cannot discover them at present. However, I have been 

 most fortunate in finding another, and, although eight plants were 

 then apparent, I have not been able to locate them again. There 

 is, I think, something very erratic about these Orchidaceous 

 plants, for while they are much in evidence in some seasons, in 

 others they are entirely wanting. 



Cephalanthera grandiflora, Gray, the White Helleborine, is a 

 giant compared with the last. Its specific name implies that, and, 

 moreover, it adopts a different habitat, being a woodland plant 

 on chalk or limestone. I have it on the latter. Hitherto 

 unrecorded for Purbeck. Epipactis latifolia, All., is another 

 Helleborine, and also affects woodland. It is known for Creech 

 Grange Wood, and has lately been found at Swanage ! Its sister, 

 E. palustris, Crantz., still flourishes here. We also have : — 



The Butterfly, both small and great, 



The Spider and the Fly ; 

 The Frog, and Fragrant Orchis, too, 



And Bee abundantly. 



Why Crocus vernus, All., should be omitted from the Bourne- 

 mouth Flora I am at a loss to understand, as there are huge 

 quantities at Studland, as many of our members can gloriously 

 testify. Of Irises, Iris foetidissima, L., the Stinking Gladwin, or 

 Roast-beef plant, is quite a characteristic Isle of Purbeck subject, 

 but why " roast beef " should be appended to it is somewhat 

 difficult of definition, as when the plant is bruised it emits a 

 disagreeable odour. Its flowers are of a dull purplish hue, whereas 

 in the variety citrina, Bromf. — which has several stations here — 

 the flowers are of a clear lemon-yellow. A root of this variety has 

 been transferred to Major Van de Weyer's garden at Smedmore 

 House, as he is desirous of effecting a cross between this and a 

 foreign species. To lovers of our native flora this garden is unique, 

 for it contains many forms of wild flowers more or less abnormal ; 

 and it is very gratifying to a Britisher to know that while exotics 

 are freely cultivated here our home-bred flora is also much in 

 evidence. Another plant of great beauty is the wild Daffodil, and 



