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O P H 
at the fides, the fegments rounded ; the three outer petals 
fpreading, green, the two inner filiform, dark-purple, 
Linnaeus has net confidered this as f'pecifically diftindt 
from the bee-ophrys; but it is now generally agreed 
that they are different, as Haller, Jacquin, and our Eng- 
lifh bo.tanifts, have decided them to be. Jacquin has 
given a full and exadt defeription of the fly-ophrys in his 
Mifcellanea. Native of Sweden, Norway, Swifferland, 
Auft-ia, Carniola, France, and Italy ; at Vevay, on the 
banks of the Lake of Geneva, May 24-th, 1779. In 
England it is not uncommon ; as in Bodton church-yard, 
and about Wrotham and Northfieet, in Kent; Harefield 
inMiddlefex; Croydon in Surrey; Hinton, Teverfham, 
Fulbourn, Linton, the Devil’s-ditch, and Chippenham, 
in Cambridgeffiire ; Bath-hills near Bungay, and Ear- 
fham-wood in Suffolk ; Ray obferved it in Eifex, as well 
as the laft two countries ; St. Vincent’s Rocks near Brif- 
tol ; Plumpton-woods near Ulverfton ; Rufhton in North- 
.amptonfhire ; Afpiy in Nottinghamfiiire ; Barrovvfield- 
vtood and Brigftear-mofs in Wefimoreland ; generally in 
calcareous paftures. It flowers in May and June. 
There are fix varieties, fome of which are mentioned 
as growing in foreign countries ; and Mr. Ray has a larger 
fort, found by Mr. Dale in a pafture near Peftingford in 
Suffolk, and by Dr. Eales near Welwyn in Hertfordfhire, 
at Greenhithe and by North Cray, by James Sherard, M.D. 
From the figure of John Bauhin, to which Ray refers, it 
will probably prove, fays Dr. Withering, to be a different 
fpecies. 
33. Ophrys apifera, or bee-ophrys: bulbs roundifh ; 
Hems leafy ; lip of the nedfary three-lobed, the lobes bent 
in underneath, fhorter than the petals. According to 
Mr. Woodward, the Item is fliorter than the foregoing; 
the leaves broader and fhorter; the fpike of fewer flowers ; 
the bra ties broader and fhorter, but ftill longer than the 
germen ; the three outer petals lanceolate, patent and 
even refledled, as long as the germen, purple, with the 
keel and two nerves green, the tips green and folded ; the 
two inner petals patent, linear, purplifh on the infide, 
green without; upper lip of the nedlarium lengthened 
into a deep-green probofeis, under which are the fila¬ 
ments and yellow antherae ; lower lip of the nedlarium 
large and broad, hairy, mottled browifh, purple, and yel¬ 
low, divided into three lobes, the two upper near the 
top, fhort, lanceolate, at firft bent upwards, afterwards 
refledled, the middle one very large, three-lobed, the fide 
ones fhort, angular, the middle one long, tapering to a 
point, which is greenifh-yellow, and refledled. Dr. Stokes 
deferibes the lower lip of the nectary as rufty-brown, very 
much refembling a fmall humble-bee, inverfely-ovate, 
the fide-lobes bent down, woolly, the edges bent in, the 
upper angles loofe and upright, refembling the wings- of 
the bee. Stamens yellowy inferted into the upper edge of 
the ftigma, burfting, when the flow'er is expanded, from 
the membranaceous cafes of the upper lip, and bending 
down on thefurface of the ftigma, continuing fixed to its 
edge. Native of feveral parts of Europe. In England 
this fingularly-beautiful plant is not uncommon, on a cal¬ 
careous foil near woods, and in meadows. Near London 
it is become fo rare, as fcarcely to be found with any cer¬ 
tainty, owing to the rapacity of florifts and dealers, who, 
as Mr. Curtis obferves very juftly, root up all they find, 
without leaving a fingle fpecimen to cheer the heart of 
the ftudent in his botanic excurfions. Mr. Alchorne has 
frequently gathered it near Charlton-cliurch, and Chiffel- 
hurft, in Kent; it grows alfo on Trunhill-downs, in the 
fame county. Mr. Blackftone found it about Harefield ; 
in Cambridgefhire it is abundant about Madingley-wood, 
Hinton, Teverfham, Fulbourn, Burrough-green,-Chip¬ 
penham, and Linton ; in Bedfordfliire, at Bolnhurft; in 
Buckinghamfhire, at Bradenham ; in Northamptonfhire, 
at Blatherwick and Afpiy ; in Oxfordfhire, at Pently 
Hangings; about Earfham in Suffolk; on St. Vincent’s 
Rocks nearBriftol; Carifbrook Caftle in the Ifle of Wight; 
Great Comberton towards Woller’s Hill, and Tedeftone 
R Y S. 
near Whitbourne, in Worcefterfhire. It flowers in June 
and July; and the feed is ripe at the end of Auguff. 
The root appears to poffefs the fame virtues with thofe 
of the Orchis, whence Jalep is made; but, being much 
fmaller, is not worth cultivating, on that account. 
14. Ophrys aranifera, or fpider-ophrys : bulbs roundifh; 
fern leafy; lip of the neftary roundifh, entire, emargi- 
nate, convex, longer than the petals. Stem fix inches 
high, more or lefs according to its place of growth, 
round, fmooth, covered below with leaves embracing it. 
Leaves next the root an inch and a half long, almoft an 
inch broad, ovate-lanceolate, fomewhat blunt, marked 
with impreffed lines, fmooth, fpreading on the ground ; 
thofe of the ftalkfew, narrower, and more pointed. Flow¬ 
ers from three to fix, in a thin Fpilc,e ; petals pale-green. 
Mr. Woodward diftinguifhes it from O. apifera, with 
which Linnaeus, and foreign botanifts in general, have 
confounded it. The ftem is not near fo high ; the leaves 
are fliorter, but otherwife fimiiar; the bradles narrower, 
the flowers fmaller, the three outer petals bluntly ovate- 
lanceolate, greenifh, fliorter than the lip ; which is fome¬ 
what heart-fhaped, but not lobed. It is furprifing that 
Linnaeus, who allows that thefe three plants are conftant 
in their differences, fliould not diftinguifh them, when 
the lip of the nedlarium in one is four-iobed, in another 
five-lobed, and in the third only flightly emarginate ; n •: 
to mention the comparative length of the petals and lip 
in the two laft, which are moft alike ; a fpecific charudler 
ftridlly juft and admiflible. Our plant is commonly known 
in this country by the name of “ bee-orchis with green 
wings,” the petals being altogether of.au herbaceous co¬ 
lour, whereas in the apifera three of them are pale purple; 
but they differ not only in colour, but very materially in 
fliape, as obferved above ; this flowers alfo in miid fea- 
fons as early as March. The nedtary, which at firft is of 
a bright and very-rich brown colour, foon changes to a 
faded yellow-green ; when the fioweripg is over,"the pe¬ 
tals incline forward, and clofe over the nedtary. The 
flower is not fo beautiful as that of the two preceding 
fpecies ; it is fancied by fome to referable a bee, by others 
a fpider; from the breadth of the lip, and its being 
marked with different (hades of brown, it derives its re- 
femblance to the latter. Others have difeovered a like- 
nefs to a fmall bird in the flower. Native of England, 
in chalky paftures ; as about Northfieet, Bodton church¬ 
yard, and other places, in Kent; Leatherhead in Surrey; 
near Wheatley, between Witney and Burford, Caver- 
lham Warren, and Stansfield, in Oxfordfhire ; about 
Branham near Tadcafter; about Bury in Suffolk ; feveral 
places in Cambridgefhire ; as Sheifora, Abington, Hil- 
derfham, Bartlow ; at Hilderfham it has been frequently 
found in very great abundance ; but the exterminators 
are very diligent wherever they can find it. 
15. Ophrys monorchis, yellow or mufk ophrys : bulb 
globular; fcape naked; lip of the nedt-ary trifid, crof's- 
fhaped. Bulb fingle, round, or fomewhat oblong, with 
a few thick fibres from the crown. Stem about fix inches 
high, round and fmooth. Root-leaves two or three, 
flieathing the ftem, lanceolate, acute, fmooth, ofafhining 
yellowifh-green, marked with parallel veins ; on the ftem 
one or two feffile awl-fliaped leaves. Spike an inch or an 
inch and a half long, of numerous flowers, which are 
greenifh-yellow, with a faint mufky fmell. Antherae fer¬ 
ruginous. Native of many parts of Europe ; as Sweden, 
Denmark, Lapland, England, Germany, Swifferland, 
Auftria, Pruffia, Italy, &c. With us near Enfield in 
Middlefex; chalk-pits near Gogmagog-hills in Cam¬ 
bridgefhire; Marfham near Swaffham, and near Snet- 
tifham, in Norfolk. It flowers in July. See fig. 2. 
16. Ophrys alpina, or alpine ophrys : bulbs ovate ; 
fcape naked ; leaves awl-fliaped ; lip of the nedtary un¬ 
divided, blunt, one-toothed on each fide. The root 
confifts of two roundifh bulbs, rooting at top. Root- 
leaves generally four, filiform, awl-fhaped, an inch long. 
Stem naked, the length of the leaves. The fpike confifts 
of 
