THE SPIRANTHES, OR LADY S TRESSES. 
327 
away evil spirits, &c. It is probable that 
from these superstitions, handed down to 
modern times, the belief has arisen, that what 
are called " anodyne necklaces," which are 
still sold in shops, and turned out of the dried 
roots of the Paeony, will prevent convulsions 
in children, and render the cutting of their 
teeth easier. 
Much might yet be done in hybridising 
the Paeony; and "the subject is well worthy 
the attention of florists. 
THE SPIRANTHES, OR LADY's TRESSES. 
Among the smaller of the species of Orchids 
which are natives of Britain, are three species 
of Spiranthes, by some called Neottia. They 
are plants which can lay claim to no great 
amount of beauty, but each of these is interest- 
ing to the botanical investigator, and one, the 
Spiranthes cernua, is, perhaps, the most rare 
and local plant of the whole British flora, 
being found, so far as is known, only in one 
spot in the three kingdoms. Of this plant the 
accompanying cut will give a very good idea. 
Spiranthes autumnalis, Richard (fragrant 
Lady's tresses). — Tubers ovate-oblong, thick ; 
radical, or root leaves, ovate-oblong stem 
leaves like bracts ; spike dense. A small tu- 
berous rooted perennial plant, with three or 
four short oblong tubers, from which are pro- 
duced ovate-oblong leaves, and a dense spike 
of small greenish white blossoms, supported 
on a stem from four to six inches in length ; 
the flowers in the spike all point in the same 
direction from one line ; but, from the spiral 
twisting of the spike, they are made to appear 
as though pointing in all directions. Flowers 
in August and September. Found in dry 
hilly chalky and gravelly pastures and open 
places. It is also called Neottia spiralis 
(Swartz), and Ophrys spiralis (Idnntsus). 
Spiranthes cestivalis, llichard (summer 
Lady's tresses). — Tubers elongated cylin- 
drical ; radical leaves oblong lanceolate, stem 
leaves narrowly lanceolate ; spike dense. A 
small tuberous rooted perennial, producing 
four or five elongated tubers, oblong lance- 
shaped leaves, and a stem of from three inches 
to a foot in height, bearing a spirally twisted 
band of greenish white flowers, with the lip 
larger than in the last. Flowers in July and 
August. Found in a bog in theNew Forest, and 
also at St. Owen's pond, Jersey, but a rare plant. 
Spiranthes cernua, Richard (drooping La- 
dy's tresses). — Tubers elongated cylindrical ; 
radical leaves linear lanceolate, stem leaves 
triangular lanceolate ; spike dense. A small 
perennial plant, with two fleshy oblong cylin- 
drical tubers, about four linear lanceolate leaves 
two or three inches long, and an oblong dense 
spike of rather large milk-white flowers, 
arranged spirally in three rows, and situated 
at the top of a stem about six inches high. 
Flowers in August. Found in North Ame- 
rica, at Fort Vancouver, and the Rocky 
Mountains ; and in the British Islands, only 
at Bearhaven, Cork, where it seems confined to 
a very few spots near the sea-shore, occupy- 
ing the drier parts of rather boggy fields. A 
beautiful figure and description was published 
Spiranthes cernua. 
in the Linncean Transactions, about two years 
since, prior to which time very little was 
known about the Irish plant. It has been 
called Ophrys cernua (Linnreus), Neottia 
gemmifara (Smith), and Spiranthes gemmi- 
fara, (Lindley). 
These plants can only concern the cultiva- 
tor as mere objects of curiosity, being too 
small to be grown for any purposes of orna- 
ment. Such being the case, it is most advisa- 
ble to have a few plants cultivated in pots, 
where they are at all required. Being small, 
small pots will suffice for them, or several 
plants may be put together in a larger one. 
The peculiarities of their natural habitats 
should be regarded in providing them with 
soil ; thus, S. autumnalis grows in chalky or 
gravelly places, and may be grown in a mix- 
ture of loam with chalk ; S. cestivalis grows 
in bogs, and should be potted in turfy peat, 
and kept moist ; and S. cernua, grows in salt 
marshes, and should have a sandy loamy soil 
and libations of weak saline mixtures. They are 
