274 
THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 
have been disposed of; the discussions as to the relation of O. lati- 
folia to this species would not now affect O. incarnata , which, in 
spite of all its variations of size, habit, and colour, can be distin¬ 
guished as a rule with perfect certainty. 
The following is a general description of O. incarnata :— 
An orchis always with hollow stem, tubers narrower and often 
much longer than in the other species of the group, palmate or bi¬ 
furcate or rarely simple. Leaves glossy, often fleshy, often yellowish- 
green, usually erect, sword-like, often almost touching the stem, 
nearly always broadest quite close to the base, usually with a strong 
keel and hooded apex, sometimes short, sometimes long, much 
exceeding the spike, always unspotted. Bracts usually broad and 
large below, much exceeding the lower flowers of the spike, often 
purple, often turning up with an elbow just below the middle. 
Flower, as a rule, smaller than in any other Marsh Orchis. Lip 
roughly obovate in general outline, length and breadth about the 
same, from about 7 mm., sometimes longer than wide, less often 
wider than long, centre-lobe usually blunt, and very small, exceeding 
the side-lobes—sometimes, however, pointed, and sometimes quite 
obscure. Side-lobes more or less obscurely crenulate, and in me st 
flowers on every spike strongly reflexed, with a very well-defined 
oblong pattern fairly parallel to the median line of the lip. Much 
more rarely dots or broken lines take the place of the lined pattern. 
Spur short, about two-thirds as long as the ovary when the flower 
first opens, very stout, rather abruptly shortening to a blunt end 
which is often slightly^ curved. It is for the most part shorter and 
stouter than in the other Marsh Orchids. Sepals broad and usually 
quite erect, often touching back to back, and often with blotches on 
them. The colour of the flower varies greatly, white, rose-pink, 
purple, and maroon being found, but not the lilac and white com¬ 
binations of the Spotted Orchids. Owing to the small size of the 
flowers, the spike is often markedly narrow-cylindric. These varia¬ 
tions will be noted in detail further on. Seeds rather small, with 
testa shorter and broader than in any form of O. prcetermissa and 
maculata , without spiral coils in the cells, which are of small mesh. 
The testa of O. purpurella alone is smaller, and has an indented 
tapered apex, whilst in O. incarnata the apex is broad and almost 
flat. 
This species grows in the wettest situations, often in bogs and 
standing water. It is also found in great numbers in damp sandy 
places near the sea. A specimen of the type which is probably 
commonest, and which we selected for description, is 3*75 dm. high, 
spike 9*2 cm., dense-flowered. Leaves five in number, all large and 
almost flat, the largest 20x2*5 cm., the three largest oblong-lanceo¬ 
late, the two lower reaching about halfway up the spike. Lowest 
bract 40 x G mm., uppermost much smaller. Flowers very pale rosy 
pink, lip about 7x7 mm., centre lobe distinct, irregular, side-lobes 
irregularly crenulate, oblong lip-pattern of firm outer lines with 
parallel streaks within. Tubers small. This plant is from Norfolk ; 
its general appearance is stout and leafy, with a narrow spike. 
