Volume 5 — PLATE CCCXV.

ORCHIS BICORNIS.

Two-horned Orchis.

CLASS XX. ORDER I.

GYNANDRIA DIANDRIA. Chives on the Pointal. Two Chives.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

Nectarium corniforme pone florem.

Honey-cup like a horn behind the flower.

See Orchis ciliaris, Pl. XLII. Vol. I.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Orchis bulbis indivisis; corollis galea bicalcarata; labio quinque-partito.

Orchis with undivided bulbs; helmet of the blossom two spurred, lip five-parted.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

This singular little Orchis was first introduced to us, from the Cape of Good Hope, by Mr. F. Masson, in 1787, but has been lost to our gardens since near that time till last year, when we had the pleasure of seeing it again in the collection of T. Evans, Esq. Stepney; but we much fear, without a fresh supply of roots, it will again soon stand but as a name in our catalogues. It is a very tender and delicate plant; and, like nearly the whole of this natural order, difficult to propagate or preserve in a cultivated state; wherefore we cannot pretend to recommend any particular method. The bulb which flowered at Stepney was planted in sandy peat, and appeared in good health. It flowers in September, loses its leaves soon after flowering, and is extremely fragrant.