Cephalanthera
(from kephale, a head, and anthera, an anther). ORD. Orchideoe. Very interesting and curious terrestrial Orchids. Calyx of three ovate, acute, converging, permanent sepals; petals ovate, erect, as long the calyx; lip scarcely spurred, saccate at the base, contracted in the middle, undivided and recurvate at the end. They thrive well in a chalky loam, and may be propagated by divisions. The following are our three native species: C. ensifolia (sword-leaved). fl. pure white; sepals and petals narrower and more pointed than in C. grandiflora. May and June. l., lower ones broadly oblong; upper ones long and narrow lanceolate. Stems 1ft. to 2ft., sub-solitary, slender. England. Closely allied to C. grandiflora, but with narrower leaves. (Sy. En. B. 1484.) C. grandiflora (large-flowered).* fl. white, distant, sub-erect; sepals and petals ovate-oblong, obtuse; terminal lobe of lip orbicular, erect, yellow. May and June. l. ovate-oblong, 3in. to 6in. long; upper ones narrower. Stems tufted, 1ft. to 2ft. high. England. (Sy. En. B. 1485.) C. rubra (red). fl. rose-purple, few or many; sepals and petals acuminate; lip white; terminal lobe ovate-lanceolate. June and July. l. lanceolate. Stem 6in. to 18in. high, slender. England. (Sy. En. B. 1483.)