284 
BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. ' 
1. —LADY’S TRESSES. (Spiranthes autujinalis, Rich.) 
Synonymes. —Neottia spiralis, Swartz ; Oplirys spiralis, Lin. Specific Character. —Leaves ovate, stalked. Spike twisted, uni- 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 541; 2nd ed., t. 1212 ; and onr fig. 4, lateral. Bracteas downy, tumid. Lip ovate, entire. {Smith.) 
in PI. 55. 
Description, &c. —This plant, though not possessing any great beauty, is yet well worth notice from the 
remarkable shape of its spike of flowers ; which, with the large bracts of the flowers, takes somewhat of a 
cork-screw appearance, like a lady’s ringlet. The plant is tolerably abundant in open pastures on a chalky or 
gravelly soil; and it flowers in August and September. It has tuberous roots. 
THE PROLIFEROUS LADY’S TRESSES. (S. gemmipara, Lindt.) 
This species is only found near Bantry Bay, in Ireland. The flowers and flower-stem are rather larger than 
those of the preceding species, and the flowers are more yellow. It flowers in July. 
GENUS III. 
THE BIRD’S-NEST. (Nkottia, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 
Generic Character. —Sepals and petals brown, converging ; lip dependent, two-lobed, concave at the base. Column taper, erect, four times as 
long as the stigma. Stigma distinctly two-lipped ; the upper lip narrower than the lower. Anthers naked. {Lindt.) 
Description, &c. —There is only one species in this genus. The name of Neottia is from a Greek word 
signifying a bird’s-nest, in allusion to the appearance of the roots. 
1.—THE COMMON BIRD’S-NEST. (Neottia Nidus Avis, Lindl.) 
Synonymes. —Epipactis nidus avis, Swartz ; Oplirys nidus avis, Lin. ; Listera nidus avis, Smith. 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 48 ; 2nd edit., 1.1215 ; and our fig. 3, in PI. 55. 
Specific Character. —Leaves none. Stem clothed with sheathing scales. Lip with two spreading lobes. {Lindt.) 
Description, &c. —This very curious plant is a leafless brown parasite, with succulent, long, clustered roots, 
that bear some resemblance to birds in a nest. It is generally found in beech woods, on a chalky or loamy soil 
It produces its dull brownish flowers in May and June. 
GENUS IV. 
THE TWAY-BLADE. (Listera, R. Br.) 
Lin. Syst. GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 
Generic Character. —Sepals and petals herbaceous, spreading; lip from the back of the column. Leafy herbaceous plants with fascicled 
dependent, two-lobed. Column taper, erect, much shorter than the fibrous roots. {Lindt.) 
stigma. Stigma plain, ovate. Anther covered by a hood proceeding 
Description, &c. —There are two species in this genus, viz., L. ovata and L. coi'data, E. Br. ; neither 
of which can be called ornamental. In both, the labellum or lower lip is very long, and cut into two deep lobes, 
whence the popular name. Both species are common on moist heaths, particularly in Scotland; and they 
flower from June till August. The name of Listera was given to this genus in honour of Dr. Martin Lister, 
a British naturalist. 
