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M A L A X I S paludofa.
Marjh 'Tway-blade.
G Y N A N D R I A Diandria.
Gen. C har. Nedlary of one hollow, heart-fhapcd,
ere6t leaf, embracing the organs of fruftification.
Corolla reverfed.
Spec. C har. Stalk pentagonal. Leaves feveral, fpa-
tulate, rough at the tip.
Syn. Malaxis paludofa. Swartz, Stockholm Tranf. for
1789,/). 147. t. 6 .f. 2.
Ophrys paludofa. Linn. Sp. PI. 1341. Hudf. Fl.
An. 389. JVith. Bot. Arr. 989. Relh. Cant. 337.
Rofe's Elem. (App.) 450. t. a. ƒ. 3.
Orchis minima bulbofa. Bail Syn. 378.
A NATIVE of turfy bogs on the north fide of Norwich,
and in fome other parts of England; communicated from the
neighbourhood of Potton, Bedfordfhire, by the Rev. Mr.
Charles Abbot of Bedford. It flowers in July, and is the fmall-
eft Britilh plant of this tribe.
However averfe to unneceflary innovation, it is impoflible
to refufe our aflent to the eftabiiftiment of this genus as cha-
raHerifed by Dr. Swartz; happy would it be if every genus
in Orchideas were as clear. Yet it appears that able botanift
has not paid due attention to the corolla being reverfed ( refu-
pinata) the odd petal (of the three external ones) being the
lowermoft (1), which is what has hitherto been erroneoufly
called the lip. The moft ftriking charadler of Malaxis con-
fifts therefore in the two ereft petals at the top (2) inftead of
the folitary one of all other Orchidese, at lealt the European
ones. The nedlary (3) moreover points upward, and embraces
the ftamina and llyle. No. 4 reprefents the ftamina and their
cover feparated, and much more magnified than the other parts.
To this genus certainly belongs Ophrys monophyllos Linn.
but furely Dr. Swartz is miftaken in referring to it alfo O.
lilifolia and Loefelii (fee our tab. 47), which refemble it in
habit only.
The difputed fynonym in Ray’s Synopfis 38'. No. 3, and
Pluk. Phyt. t. 247. f. 2. Ophrys paluftris of Hudfon’s firft
edition, has certainly nothing to do with our plant. May it
not be O. Loefelii ? See Bot. Arr. 989, 990.