now known to be the objects of mere variety. The prin- 
cipal difference we can detect between the two, lies in the 
longer narrower and more tapered segments of the label of 
the former. The shortness of the bractes in the latter, 
we suspect from a review of samples in the Banksian 
Herbarium, is occasional and will not hold good as a cha- 
racter. __If the outer petals are really confluent in militaris, 
this might afford a valid distinction, but we believe these 
will be found merely to converge, as in. our plant, but 
not to cohere. 
The drawing was taken from a sample remitted by Mr. 
Swainson, with whom it had flowered at Elm Grove, in 
Febriiary last. The root was imported by that gentleman 
from Sicily, where the plant grows with a longer and more 
luxuriant spike than in the present specimen, and is com- 
mon on the mountains of Messina, but more rare on those of 
Palermo. E 
Tubers twin, ovately oblong, about the size of largish 
acorns. Rootsheath white, membranous, nerved. Leaves 
§-9, alternate, compassing, uprightly spreading, 3-5 inches 
long, where widest about of an inch across, smooth, 
lineated, ovately and ligulately lanceolate; sharp, midrib 
keeled, inner ones gradually longer sheathing farther more 
upright curled, one or two of the lower ones and the upper 
stem-one plain. Stem 5-9 inches high, pale green, round, 
fluted. Spike short, dense, cylindric, conical; flowers 
white and flesh-coloured, scented. Bractes white, mem- 
branous, broadly subulate long-pointed, as if awned, close- 
pressed to the germen than which they are twice shorter. 
Germen half an inch long, roundedly hexagonal, equal to 
the casque of the corolla, twisted. Corolla semiringent: 
3 outer petals converging into a casque, ovately lanceolate, 
long-pointed, concave, 2 side ones obliquely erected, with 
4 deep red streaks, middle one 3-streaked: 2 inner petals 
twice smaller, of the same colour, linearly oblong with a 
short abrupt point, lapping together over the summit of the 
column: label pale-pink, about + longer than the petals, 
propendent, lamina or broad part nearly oblong, narrowly 
fivecleft and threelobed, disk oblong slightly raised minutely 
roughened, two side lobes linear and tapered narrow di- 
vergent, middle lobe about + longer trifid, side segments 
of the same shape as the two lateral lobes, middle segment 
