THE ORCHID FAMILY 
163 
Rare, local. Upland pastures on chalk and limestone ; distributed throughout England, but not 
found in Scotland or Ireland. May — June. Perennial. 
4. Great Dark-winged Orchid. (Or chis purpurea. Huds.)— Flowers numerous, in a 
dense oblong spike ; bracts about one-quarter as long as the seedcase, the 5 similar perianth-lobes 
forming a dark purple hood ; the lip whitish, with raised red dots, 3-lobed, the terminal lobe broad, 
divided, and with a small tooth between the segments, the spur blunt, about half as long as the 
seedcase ; the 2 stalked pollen-masses each attached to a separate gland contained in the rostellum 
pouch. This species resembles the Dwarf Dark-winged Orchid (Orchis ustulata) in its colouring, 
as the upper part of the spike is very dark when in bud, only shewing the dark purple perianth- 
lobes, and is lighter below where the flowers are out, though never so light as the Dwarf Dark- 
winged Orchid. The stem is stout and tall, 1-3 feet high, and the leaves are rather narrow. 
( Under Orchis militaris. Benth. and Hook. ; Orchis fusca. Jacq.) \Plate 52. 
Very rare. On chalky, bushy hills in Kent. June. Perennial. 
5. Military Orchid. (Or'chis militdris. Linn.) — Flowers numerous, in a dense oblong 
spike ; the bracts short, about one-quarter as long as the seedcase ; the 5 similar perianth-lobes egg- 
shaped, pointed, forming a hood over the column, of a pale purplish-pink, the lip (labellum) whitish, 
tinged with purple and dotted with raised rough red points, 3-lobed, the terminal lobe divided 
and with a conspicuous tooth between the 2 lobes, prolonged into a short blunt spur, about half as 
long as the seedcase ; the 2 stalked pollen-masses each attached to a separate gland, both glands 
being contained in the pouch of the rostellum. [As described in the genus Orchis.] The stem 
is 1-2 feet high ; the leaves, which are chiefly in the lower part of the plant, are broadly oval or 
oblong ; and the tubers are undivided. 
Very rare, local. In hilly pastures and on the edges of woods, on chalk, in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, 
Buckinghamshire, and Hertfordshire. May. Perennial. 
6. Monkey Orchid. (Or'chis sim'ia. Lamarck.) — A similar species to the Military 
Orchid (Orchis militaris), but with the flowers having a dark red hood, and a spotted white lip 
(labellum) with narrow strap-shaped red lobes, the side lobes being as long as the middle ones. 
( Under Orchis militaris. Benth. and Hook.) \_Plate 52. 
Very rare. On the edges of woods and fields on chalk hills, in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Kent. 
May. Perennial. 
7. Green-Wing’ed Orchid. (Or'chis morio. Linn.) — Flowers few, rich purple, rarely 
pink or white, in a rather loose spike ; the bracts pinkish and about as long as the seedcase ; the 
5 similar perianth-lobes blunt, with green veins, forming a hood over the column ; the lip paler in 
the middle, spotted with purple, broader than long, 3-lobed, and the spur long, straight, and very 
blunt, nearly as long as the seedcase ; the 2 stalked pollen-masses each attached to a separate 
gland, both glands being contained in the pouch of the rostellum. [As described in the genus 
Orchis.] The stems 6-12 inches high, with a few narrow leaves low down, and sheathing bracts 
above; the tubers roundish and undivided. \Plate 53. 
Common in meadows in the south of England, more rare towards the north, not found in Scotland, 
and rare in Ireland. May — June. Perennial. 
8. Early Purple Orchid. (Or chis raas'cula. Linn.)— This is the commonest orchid 
found in our meadows. The flowers vary in colour from a purplish-red to pink and white, spotted 
with red ;they are arranged in a loose cluster; the bract at the base of each flower is about as long 
as the seedcase and is 1 -nerved ; the 2 side perianth-lobes are spreading, the upper ones somewhat 
hooded, about the same length as the lip (labellum) which is as broad as long, 3-lobed, and 
prolonged at the base into a long blunt spur about as long as the ovary ; the 2 stalked pollen- 
