228 
ORCHIS. 
The flowers expand in succession, beginning at 
the bottom, and it is not common to see more 
than three or four expanded at one time; as 
the lower ones decay, others open higher on 
the spike, until the whole have blossomed. 
They are thinly scattered on the stem, which 
adds considerably to the deception, for were 
they numerous, it would lessen the effect. 
The calyx divides into three lanceolate leaves 
of pale green, out of which issues a corolla or 
petal, so bent, cut, and painted, as to resemble 
a fly witli its head in the calyx. 
The Bee Ophrys flowers about a month 
later than the Fly Ophrys, and the flowery 
spike is thicker and shorter than the latter 
species, being generally from about six to ten 
inches in height. The flowers are consider¬ 
ably broader and closer set, and in shape and 
colour resemble a small humble bee. The 
spike seldom produces more than four or six 
flowers, but like the Fly Ophrys, it continues 
a considerable time in blossom before it 
withers, unless it is too much exposed to the 
sun or the wind. The leaves of this plant are 
of an ovate lanceolate shape, silvery under¬ 
neath, and considerably larger than those of 
the Fly Ophrys. 
The Orchis is of the class Gynandria, and 
order Monandria . 
