The Low Metamorphism of the Elland Flags. 35 
type. Wherever any variation is noticed hybridisation is 
the cause. 
Orchis lati folia and 0. O’Kellyi are not species because they 
never occur in isolated colonies, but only in the company of 
other species, and then sparingly. Orchis lati folia is a hybrid. 
Orchis O’Kellyi an albino, just as white forms or varieties of 
incarnata, maculata, etc. If Orchis purpurella is not a species 
as sceptics sometimes tell us, from whence does it obtain its 
spotted leaves ? It cannot be from Orchis fuchsii, for the lip 
shape is entirely different. If from maculata, how does it 
come to be found in isolated and quite uniform colonies ? 
When we require a specimen we prefer to visit a colony of 
orchids and pick one at random knowing that it will be what 
we want. How can a plant be defined as a distinct species 
when one has to wander about a considerable time among 
masses of variable palmate orchids, and eventually find one 
or two which are considered to be ‘ good latifolias.’ 
Is there some peculiar factor at work in connection with 
the hybridisation of orchids ? In most spots in Craven we 
find many species growing together and fail to find a hybrid, 
while in others hybrids are more common than type specimens. 
On one such tract we have Orchis maculata- fuchsii -pur pur ella- 
incarnata and Var. pulchrior and prcetermissa Var. pulchella, 
and to spend an hour there and see all the variations gradually 
merging one into the other would almost shatter the faith of 
the most ardent student of palmate orchids. Perhaps it is 
spots like this that make some botanist very sceptical as 
regards accepting such species as Orchis purpurella ; but it is 
the fact that all these plants can be found in other places quite 
distinct that makes us keep the faith. As before mentioned, 
this cannot be said for Orchis lati folia and Orchis O’Kellyi. 
LOW GRADE METAMORPHISM OF THE ELLAND 
FLAGS DUE TO SUBSIDIARY FAULTING. 
JAMES WALTON. 
Flixby is bounded by Rastrick and Elland on the north, 
and by Huddersfield and Longwood on the remaining sides, 
and the major portion of the parish is occupied by a park 
which has been converted into a golf course. The Elland 
Flags are well exposed in this area and are traversed by three 
small east-west faults which may be considered as parallel 
branches of the Rishworth-Staincliffe fracture. Owing to 
extensive quarrying, the effect of these faults is well shown, 
and in the quarry at the northern end of Cowcliffe village, 
the smallest of them is seen together with a series of subsidiary 
fractures. The largest of these subsidiary faults has a throw 
of only one foot and it is almost vertical. 
1933 Feb. 1 
