Flora, of Ausfrdliu. 135 



production of hybrids, some of which in tiaie obtain the 

 to the production of hybrids, some of which in time obtain the 

 fixity of species. The same applies to many genera of less ex- 

 tended scope. Tlie present case of the occurrence of a natural 

 hybrid in the genus Pterostylis (Orchidaceae) is, so far as I am 

 aware, only the second instance recorded for that genus in Aus- 

 tralia. The plants were found by Mr. J. R. Tovey at Mentone, \ ic- 

 toria, 1907, growing among patches of Pterostylis conoinna and of 

 P. reflexa, var. intermedia. Externally they resemble the latter 

 2:)lant, except that the basal rosette of leaves persists in some 

 cases until flowering. The labellum, how^ever, instead of hanging 

 an entire obtusely-pointed tip, is broader and faintly but dis- 

 tinctly bifid at its extremity, in this respect, being exactly 

 intermediate between the two forms. Some specimens show signs 

 of reversion to one or the other parent. Bentham gives the 

 scape of P. concinna as rarely above 1 inch. It is usually 3 to 5 

 inches long, and may bear 1, 2, or even 3 bracts, the lower ones 

 always empty. The wings of the column are marked in white, 

 green and purple, but the intensity, especially of the latter 

 coloration, varies. The possibility of hybridisation must be 

 borne in mind in future studies of this genus, and this ex- 

 planation may apply to some of the species already described. 

 In Fitzgerald's Australian Orchids mention is made of a supposed 

 hybrid between P. cm'ta, R.Br., and P. pedunculata, R.Br. 



PuLTENAEA STRiCTA, Sims. In Bot. Mag., 1588 (1813). 

 (Leguminosae). 



Synonyms: P. maideni, F. M. Reader, in Vict. Nat., xxii., 

 158 (1905); P. largiflorens, F. v. M., in Benth., Fl. 

 Austr., ii., 13-1 (1864); P. gunnii, Benth., in Ann. der 

 Wien. Mus., ii., 82 (1839). 



As the result of a close investigation of the numerrius forms of 

 these highly variable and closely related '" species," it can only 

 be concluded that Ave are dealing with forms of one large, 

 extremely pleomorphic species. The original description of 

 Pultenaea stricta in the Botanical Magazine, 1813, page 1588, 

 was made from a plant flowering in England, and naturally refers 

 to that specimen only, Sims being unaware of the varied funns 

 assumed by the species in its native habitat. 



