Page 122

[ 261 ]

XXV. On the Neottia gemmipara of Smith. By Charles C. Babington, Esq.,
M.A., F.L.S., F.G.S. &c.

Read March 5th, 1844.

THE good fortune having occurred to me of being one of the very few
botanists who have seen the rare Irish plant called Neottia gemmipara by
Sir J. E. Smith, I have drawn up the following description of fresh specimens;
and Mr. Sowerby has kindly presented me with the beautiful drawing represented
on the accompanying plate.

Root of two thick fleshy cylindrical blunt tubers, of about an inch long. At the top of the
tubers a bud is usually to be found (not a hybernaculum as represented in Eng. Bot.
Suppl.), but it is not remarkable or constant enough to require particular notice. Stalk
erect, 5 or 6 inches high, glandular above, bearing two or three smooth triangular-lanceolate
attentuated sheathing small adpressed leaves. The radical leaves linear-laneolate,
acute, shorter than the stem, about 4 in number, covering the lower half of the stalk,
2 or 3 inches long; the outermost narrowed considerably below and clasping; the
others with a long sheathing base, broadest at the top of the sheath. Spike 1 to 1 1/2
inch long, oblong, dense, erect; of from 20 to 30 rather large milk-white flowers closely
placed in three spirally-twisted rows, and each accompanied by a smooth triangular-lanceolate
bract, the one or two lowermost of which slightly exceed the length of the flowers,
but the rest scarcely equal them. Sepals and two upper petals adhering together and
connected through a considerable space from their base in front, their tops free, linear,
blunt. Lip spathulate, blunt, crenate; its base very broad, thick, glandular externally,
channelled by the inflexion of the sides, and almost inclosing the shortly-stalked
column, equalling the sepals. Operculum ovate, acute, dark brown, springing from
within the hollowed extremity of the column. Rostellum of the stigma deeply bifid
with flattened subulate very acute points, having an elongate linear bluntish dark
brown appendage (proscolla) between and extending beyond them. There is a slight
blunt projection between the operculum and the rostellum, which seems to represent
the intermediate processes which are found in Spiranthes autumnalis and S. æstivalis.

It will be seen from the above description that the plan under consideration

2 M 2