144 BOTANY OF SOUTH-WESTERN NEW SOUTH WALES, 



Rich., is the most showy flowering plant. It has submerged, 

 tufted, radical leaves, ovate or oblong floating ones and rather 

 large whitish flowers. It is fairly common in many of the fresh 

 water lakes and lagoons. Tw^o other allied plants, Vallis7ieria 

 spiralis, Linn., and Hydrilla verticiUata, Casp., are found in many 

 of the water-courses. 



With the exception of one epiphytal species, Cymhidium 

 canaliculatum, R.Br., all the south-western Orchidece are terres- 

 trial plants which are fairly numerous, especially in the eastern 

 portion. The most wddely distributed species of this Order is 

 Pterostylis rufa, R.Br. In one or other of its several forms it is 

 found from the extreme east to the farthest settlement west, but 

 nowhere plentifully. The tallest growing members of this 

 family are the two species of Prasophyllum, but those kinds 

 which produce the most showy flowers belong to the genera 

 Thelymitra, Diuris and Caladenia. In September and October 

 groups of these plants may often be seen in bloom, and although 

 the flowers are small in comparison with those of the tropical 

 exotic species, still they are a charming sight when growing 

 amongst the vivid green spring herbage. The colour of the 

 flowers ranges through all shades of blue, purple, yellow, pink, 

 and white. There is considerable variation in regard to the 

 height of the plants, and colour and size of the blooms of certain 

 species of Caladenia. When bruised the leaves of Glossodia 

 major, R.Br., emit a sweet perfume. I have found no indigenous 

 Iride(ti, but four exotic species of this Order have become acclima- 

 tised in a few districts. The two South African species of 

 Homeria {H. collina, Sweet, and H. aurantiaca, Sweet) with 

 orange-coloured flowers and commonly known as " Cape tulip," 

 are suspected poison plants. Amaryllidece have a few beautiful 

 flowering species, usuall}" found on sandy countr}^ Several 

 species of the lily family {Liliaceoi) occur in greater or less pro- 

 fusion almost all over this region. They include plants popularly 

 known as " fringed violets " (7V/2/sa?20<it5 spp.), "native onion" 

 or "leek" (Jjulbine sipip.), "blind poison plant" (Stypandra 

 ylauca, R.Br.), and " Cockatoo plant" {Anguillaria dioica, R.Br.). 



