The Scientific Notebooks of German Orchidologist Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Kränzlin

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