Page:Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, Volume 12.djvu/46

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VI. Observations on the Orchis militaris of Linnæus.By Mr. J. E. Bicheno, F.L.S.

very near affinity which orchideous plants have to each other has rendered their separation into genera and species a matter of great difficulty. Scarcely any tribe, however, has been more effectually changed, or received greater improvements since the time of Linnæus, than this; and in support of the fact, we need only refer to the labours of Swartz in Sweden, and of Brown in our own country. No species required an elucidation more than the Orchis militaris; for Linnæus has introduced so many varieties, and they are so badly supported by synonyms, that it is difficult, sometimes impossible, to make out what he means. It is to be feared that English botanists in general have not understood them, and that they have still further perplexed the subject. My object, therefore, on the present occasion is to point out what I conceive to be the English species, which have been called, since the time of Linnæus, by the name of Orchis militaris. Of these there are three: the Orchis fusca of Curtis; the Orchis militaris of English Biology, vol. xxvii. t. 1873; and the Orchis tephrosanthos of Willdenow and Swartz. The synonyms which I am enabled to ascertain are not numerous, because I am situated far from the rich libraries of the metropolis; but even if I could command them, I believe I should not be disposed to quote largely, since it is almost impossible to identify these plants in the old authors, Rh