476 
The BRITISH HERBAL. 
] 7. The Butterfly-Orchis; 
Orchis hifolia calcari ohlongo. 
The root is a double bulb. 
The leaves are ufually two : they are oblong, 
very broad, and of a deep green. 
The ftalk is a foot high, flender, and of a pale 
green. 
The flowers ftand at the top in a long, loofe 
fpike ; and they are fmall and white. 
They are fuppofcd to reprefent the form of a 
butterfly ; but there mufl; go a great deal of fancy 
to make that out. The fpur behind is very 
long, and there is a plcafing fweetnefs in the 
flowers at evening. 
We have it in boggy grounds. It flowers in 
May. 
C. Bauhine calls it Orchis hifolia altera. Others, 
Orchis hermafhroditica, and Pfychodss. 
18. Gnat Orchis. 
Orchis bifola minor. 
The root is a double bulb. 
The leaves are oblong, broad, obtufc, and 
ufually only two in number. 
The ftalk is of a pale green, juicy, and fix 
inches high. 
The flowers ftand in loofe fpikes at the tops of 
the ftalks ; and are fmall, white, and of little 
fmell : they have been fuppofed by fome to re- 
prefent a gnat; but it is very imperfeSly. 
C. Bauhine calls it Orchis hifolia minor calcari 
ebkngo, 
ig. Male Handed Orchis, 
Orch'.s palmata mas. 
The root is compofed of two tuberous pieces, 
divided at the bottom in the manner of fingers. 
'I his is what botanifts call palmated. 
The leaves are numerous, broad, of a pale 
green, and obcuic. 
The ftalk rifes to two feet in height. 
The flowers ftand in a long fpike at the top; 
and are naturally of a fine red, with a tinge of 
purple. 
They are fometimes white, and the fpike 
fiiorter. 
Thefe and the like diflerences rifing from the 
degree of nonrilhment, have led writers to diftin- 
guifli it into feveral imaginary fpecies. 
We have it frequent in boggy and wet ground. 
It flowers in June. 
C. Bauhine calls it Orchis palmala fratenfis la- 
tifolia cum longis calcaribus. 
20. Female Handed Orchis, 
Orchis pakiata fccmina. 
The root is handed. 
The leaves are long, broad, of a deep green, 
and fpotted with black. " ' 
The ftalk is a foot and half high, and at the 
top ftand the flowers in a long clofe fpike : they 
are fmall, and of a pale red, with a tinge of 
purple. 
It is common in paftures, and flowers in June. 
C. Bauhine calls it Orchis fratenfis macuhta. 
Others, Orchis palmala macalata. 
21. Long fpurred handed Orchis. 
Orchis palmata calcaribus longis. 
The root is palmated. 
The leaves arc oblong, narrow, and of a pale 
green. 
The ftalk i ten inches high, and juicy. 
The flowers ftand at the top in a long, thick- 
fet fpike i and they are fmall, and naturally of a 
very bright red, fometimes white : they have a 
fragrant fmell. 
It is not uncommon in our paftures, and flowers 
in June. 
C. Bauhine calls it Orchis falmata minor calca- 
ribus oblongis, 
22. Frog. Orchis. 
Orchis falmata flore luteo viridi. 
The root is palmated. 
The leaves are oblong, broad, and of a deep 
green. 
The ftalk is a foot and half high. 
The flowers ftand at the top in a loofe fpike ; 
and they are large, and of a Angular figure, by 
fome fuppofed to reprefent a frog. 
Their colour is a yellowifti green ; and the 
lower part is fometimes tinged with purple. 
C. Bauhine calls it Orchis falmata Jlore -uiridi. 
23. Dwarf handed Orchis. 
Orchis falmata fi'filta alba. 
The root is palmated. 
The leaves are oblong, broad, of a deep green," 
and obtufe. 
The ftalk is five inches high, and at its top 
ftand the flowers in a loofe, fmall fpike : they 
arc white, and, for the fize of the plant, lar»e. 
We have it on our weftern hills. It flowers ia 
June. 
The flowers have a fweec fmell. 
Ray calls it Orchis ftifilla alba oiorata radicc 
falmata. 
2.\. Great-handed Orchis, with greenifh, white 
flowers. 
Orchis falmata major Jlore viridi albeme. 
The root is palmated. 
The leaves are broad, and of a deep green,' 
The ftalk is two feet high. 
The flowers ftand at its top in a long, thick 
fpike ; and are large, and of a whitifti green. 
We have it in damp ground in our northern 
counties. It flowers in June. 
Ray calls it Orchis falmata tliyrfo fpeciofo. 
25. Scarlet Orchis. 
Orchis falmata tola rubra. 
The root is palmated. 
The leaves are oblong, confiderably broad, 
and obtufe : they rife firft of a brownilh green, 
and foon after become of a fine red. 
The ftalk is round, juicy, red, and a foot high; 
The flowers arc fmall, numerous, and of a 
faint purple. 
The whole plant, when it has been fome time 
in flower, acquires the high red colour of the 
leaves. 
We have it in Eflex, It flowers in June. 
C. Bauhine 
