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262 Mr. Babington on the Neottia gemmipara of Smith.

may fairly be referred to the genus Spiranthes (included in Neottia by
Smith), although differing from the other European species in some particulars;
the most remarkable of these is the connection of all the sepals with
the two upper petals. In appearance it differs greatly, owing to its very
dense spike and the arrangement of the flowers in three spiral lines. The
idea of its forming a new genus, suggested by Mr. Sowerby from the examination
of the dried specimen in the Smithian herbarium, is now proved to be
erroneous.

It now becomes necessary to endeavor to determine the identity or otherwise
of Smith's N. gemmipara with the published species included in the
genus Spiranthes; and for the opportunity of doing this I have to acknowledge
my great obligations to Sir W. J. Hooker, who most kindly allowed me
free access to his extensive herbarium.

In his 'Genera and Species of Orchideous Plants' Dr. Lindley points out the
affinity of this plant with the Sp. Romanzoffiana, Cham., from which it is now
found to differ by its much shorter bracts; its blunt, linear and equally broad
sepals; and its longer spathulate lip. If, however, we examine another allied
species, the Sp. cernua, Rich. (Ophrys cernua, L.), we find a plant agreeing
most exactly with the Irish N. gemmipara; indeed, after a careful examination
of Drummond's Rocky Mountain specimens of Sp. cernua, I am unable to
detect the slightest difference. Smith's name must therefore become a synonym.
I venture to offer the following specific character of the species.

Spiranthes cernua, Rich.; tuberibus elongato-cylindricis, foliis radicalibus
lineari-lanceolatis vaginantibus: exteriori amplexicaule; caulinis triangulari-lanceolatis
vaginantibus, bracteis floribus brevioribus, spicâ densâ,
floribus trifariis, sepalis petalisque æqualibus obtusis cohærentibus; labello
oblongo medio nonnihil constricto apice rotundato crenato.

Ophrys cernua, L. Sp. Pl. 1340.

Neottia gemmipara, Sm. Engl. Flor. iv. p. 36.

Spiranthes cernua et Sp. gemmipara, Lindl. Gen. et Sp. Orch. 467.

Hab. America Borealis e Terrâ Nova ad Fort Vancouver usque; etiam apud Bearhaven in
Co. Cork Hiberniiæ, florens in Augusto Septembrique.

By the favour of the Rev. William Hincks I am enabled to give the following