282 THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE LINXEAN SOCIETY 



Queensland is N. coerulea, Savigny, a quite distinct species from 

 either of the above, and for which it could only be mistaken in 

 a dry specimen. A minute variety of this species I met with in 

 some of the still shallow waters of the Barron River. This 

 variety has light blue flowers, in size and form resembling an 

 Ottelia ; the leaves are numerous, of a thin texture, and from 1 

 to 2 inches in diameter. The pretty leaves, flowers, and close 

 orowth of this aquatic would recommend it for cultivation in 

 small aquariums, in company with another delicate aquatic Blyxa 

 Boxburghii, Rich. On the low sandy land near these northern 

 swamps will be noticed a few showy plants, such as Eurycles 

 amboinensis, Loud., a fine bulbous plant, which should be more 

 frequently seen in our gardens, for both flower and leaf are beau- 

 tiful. In company with this will often be found Tacca j?i?inati- 

 fida, Forst., the dichotomous ramifications of whose leaves make 

 it a most conspicuous object. With these are also found a few 

 terrestrial Orchids, as the pretty Geodorum pidum, Lindl., with 

 its reflexed head of pink flowers and several kinds of Pogonias, 

 the leaves of which are beautiful while they last, but usually die 

 away before the plant comes into bloom. As the land rises and 

 becomes more rocky the Phaius grandifolius, Lour., will be found 

 in perfection, together with various Scitamineous plants as 

 Alpinia arctiflora, F. von M., a species about 6 or 8 feet high, 

 with soft velvety leaves and terminal panicle of rather large 

 white flowers. Some other species of this genus will be seen 

 with the genera Musa, Curcuma, Amomum, Elettaria, Gostus, and 

 the noble Tapeinocheilos, which when growing strong attains 

 the height of 7 or 8 feet, resembling a strong 'Carina,' but the 

 stems are rather weak, and, failing the support of neighbouring 

 shrubs, fall to the ground, take root at the nodes, and send up 

 other stems to add to the mass of foliage. The spike of flowers 

 does not, as stated in the Flora Australiensis, vol. VL, p. 267, 

 terminate the main stem, but is borne on an independent stem 

 of 1 or 2 feet. The spike of flowers is about 6 inches long and 

 three through, the bracts recurved, and of a deep crimson, but 



the colouring is so rich that it passes description. 



