ORCIIIDE.E. 183 



AcRiopsis, Bl. 

 rseudo-bulhous epiphytes. Hulbs aggregate, about the size of a bazel-nut, 

 terminated by two long slender, linear, pointed leaves. Flowers numerous, very 

 small, in racemes or panicles on a long slender curved radical stem. They are 

 remarkable for being tctramerom, i.e. the perianth has only four segments— two 

 sepals and two petals, rolleu-masses 2, fusiform. Species 2. A. Jiidica has almost 

 colourless pale-green flowers, and is more striking when in fruit. It pods freely, 

 and the pods are of the size of a currant and golden-yellow. Flowers in a panicle. 

 Those of A. pida are rather larger, coloured, and in a raceme. 



TUEL.VSIS, III. 



Pseudo-bulbous epiphytes. Bulbs terminated by a single leaf. Flowers very 

 small on a radical scape. Pollen-masses 8, on a long slender stipes with a narrow 

 elongated gland. Worthless obscure plants, from the ordinary point of view, but 

 highly interesting fi-om the botanical standpoint. Species 2. 



AprEXincuLA, Bl. 



Small caulescent epiphytes, with hard woody stems a few inches long and 

 remarkably flat bifarious leaves, the sheathing bases of wliich overlap each other 

 alternately on the stem. Flowers Minute, either in elongated spikes or crowded in 

 small heads at the end of the stem. The pollen-masses are 8, and they have this 

 peculiarity, that they have no caudide in the sense in which Lindley uses the word, 

 no stipes in Benthara's sense, but they tnjier gradually after the manner of Cahmthc 

 and Limntodes, and are attached by their slender ends (which Bentham calls caudidcs) 

 to the gland, which I find is round or ovate and pointed. A similar remark to that 

 made on the last genus may be made also on this. Species 2. 



PoDOCHILUS, Bl. 



Another genus of inconspicuous Orchids. Stems caulescent, a few inches long, 

 leaves close-set and bifarious. Flowers most minute, sometimes no bigger than a largo 

 pin's head, solitary or spiked, generally terminal. The pollen-masses are 4, attached, 

 in pairs, by 2 stipites {caicdicles of Lindley), to a common gland, which is ovate 

 and pointed. This is true of P. cullralus. But in P. lueesce/is I find 2 stipites 

 with 4 pollen-masses seated on their uiiitrd coHiiivent siii/ii/iit, but no f/lmid, and tlie 

 stipites are divergent at the base ! Altogether the structure of the Pollinuiium in 

 this genus is remarliable to a degree, and can only be shown properly by elaborate 

 and liighly magnified drawings, such as I have made from living plants. Species 3. 

 The flowers of this and the two preceding genera have spurred or pouched bases, 

 and are closed instead of spreading. 



Tribe IV. OPHRYDEJE. 

 AcERAs, E. Br. 



Terrestrial herbaceous plants with short leafy stems and fleshy fascicled roots 

 ■with 1 swollen tuber. The ilowers are small and of a dull colour in terminal spikes. 

 Anther erect, 2-celled. rollin-masses 2, with separate caudiclcs, but only 1 common 

 gland. Species 1. 



The Orchids of this and following genera, included in the tribe Ophrydese, are all 

 terrestrial, and resemble in general appearance the Orchids of our home woods and 

 pastures. The structure of the antber and pollen-masses differs much from any 

 hitherto described. The former is no longer an easily detached lid or ca]), but a firm 

 and tixed part of the column, with two very distinct cells opening vertically by long 

 slits or sutures. Tbe pollen-masses, again, instead of being hanl and waxy, consist 

 of a number of small grains which cohere by means of an elastic cobwebby sul)stancc, 

 and taper into a point below, and end in a gland. This extended or tapering portion 

 is the true caudide, so called by Bentham and by Lindley also, and it is a part of the 



