DIANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. Oechis. 
29 
(Dicks H. S.—E. Bot. 631. E.)— Curt. 121— Hall. 33. 1. at ii. p. 144 — 
Kniph. 7— Woodv. 90— FI. Dan. 457— Sheldr. 16— Dod. 236. 1— Lob. Obs. 
87. 3; 7c. i. 176. 1 —Ger. Em. 208. 1—Park 1346. 1 — Wale.—Black w. 53 
—Fuch. 555— J. B. ii. 763. I—Lonic. 1. 201. l-Matth. 882 --Ger. 158. 
5 —Flowers only, Vaill. 31. 12 and 11. 
Very closely allied to O. morio, but differing as follows: Stem twice as 
tall. Flowers numerous. The two petals on the back not approaching 
to a helmet form. The middle lobe of the lip smallest. Linn. Bulbs 
oval, both fixed to the base of the stem. Stem twelve to fifteen inches 
high. Leaves spear-shaped, bright green and shining above, sea green 
underneath, with longitudinal parallel veins, usually with large purplish 
brown spots. Floral leaves longer than the germen. Flowers of a darker 
or paler purple, rarely white. Petals, the two lateral ones upright, and 
bent back to back, the middle ones expanding and lying over the two 
lower ones, which are closely approaching, and of a paler colour. Lip of 
the nectary dotted towards the base, broad, with three lobes, the side ones 
roundish, scolloped, the middle ones notched at the end. Horn as long 
as the germen, broadest and somewhat compressed at the end. Woodw. 
(Masses of pollen yellow, undivided. Sm. E.) 
Early Spotted Orchis. (Welsh: Hosanau rgog ; Tegeirian coch y 
gwanwyn. E.) Meadows and pastures. P. May.* 
O. ustula'ta. Lip of the nectary four-cleft, rough with prominent 
points: horn obtuse, (very short. E.); petals distinct, (leaves lan¬ 
ceolate. E.) 
Dicks. H. S. — (Hook. FI. Lond. E.)— Hall. 28. 2. at ii. p. 140— E. Bot. IS— 
FI. Dan. 103— Clus. i. 268. 1— Ger. Em. 207— Park. 1345— J. B. ii. 
* Mr. Moult, in a letter to Dr. Percival, inserted in Phil. Tr. lix. describes his 
method of making Salep. The best time to gather the roots, he observes, is when the 
seed is formed, and the stalk going to fall: for then the new bulb, of which Salep is made, 
is arrived at its full size. The new roots being separated from the stalk, are to be washed 
in water, and the outer thin skin taken off. They are then to be set on a tin plate, in an 
oven heated to the degree of a bread oven. In six, eight, or ten minutes, they will have 
acquired a transparency like horn, without being diminished in size. They are then to be 
removed into another room to dry and harden, which will be done in a few days; or they 
may be finished in a very slow heat in a few hours.—Salep thus prepared may be sold for 
less than a shilling a pound, and affords a mild and wholesome nutriment, superior to rice, 
which in times of scarcity, in cases of dysentery and strangury, and on ship-board, may¬ 
be extremely useful. See Percival’s Essays, part ii. p. 37. —Mr. Moult made his experi¬ 
ments upon the roots of this species only. The preceding species is equally proper for the 
purpose, and it is highly probable that every species of Orchis may be used indiscrimi¬ 
nately. Salep has been hitherto imported from Turkey at a considerable price, but it is to 
be hoped we shall no longer be provided from foreign markets, with an article that our 
country can supply in almost any quantity. If ever plantations of it are made, the plants 
must be propagated by roots, for the seeds seldom come to perfection. (Mr. Salisbury, 
in a communication to the Linn. Soc. (further noticed in our vol.i. p.123) assures us that 
be finds no difficulty in raising plants from the seeds of many species of Orchideae, 
among which O.mascnla is particularly named, in his conservatory: and Mr. Hunter, 
Nurseryman, near Birmingham, has also sncceeded in propagating plants of this tribe 
from seeds sown in a stove. The spikes of these flowers are supposed to be the “ Long- 
Purples” or (t Dead-men’s Fingers,” of the gentle Ophelia’s garland, previous to her 
mournful exit. 
“ There with fantastic! garlands did she come, 
“ Of Crow-flowers, Nettles, Daisies, and Long-Purples.” 
Though some have imagined the term thus introduced by the bard of Avon rather to have 
referred to the Cuckoo-pint, sometimes called “ Bloody-men’s Fingers” in Worcestershire. 
