^l'\'^'\ Pescott, Reproduction of 'L'ervestfial Orchids. i6i 



to vegetate," and, again, to "the great difficulty in persuading 

 them to vegetate." Other remarks are interesting. He states 

 that Thelymitra came a fertiHzes itself, and produces a seed 

 capsule, yet it is not nearly so common as Aciantlms fornicatns, 

 the majority of the flowers of which are unproductive. Further, 

 " Phaius grand if olius and Calanthe veratrifolia grow in similar 

 situations. Every flower of the Phaius produces seeds, only 

 occasionally one of the Calanthe ; yet Phaius is rare and 

 Calanthe common." 



Cheeseman, in the " Transactions of the New Zealand In- 

 stitute," 1875, says that only a quarter of the flowers of 

 Ptcrostylis trullifolia yield capsules, whereas Acianthiis Sinclairii 

 produces an extraordinary number of seeds ; yet in many 

 districts it is not more abundant than the Pterostylis. 



In the B.A.A.S. Handbook of South Australia (1914), Dr. 

 Rogers saj^s that " in certain genera (such as Caladenia, Microtis, 

 Prasophyllum, and Thelymitra) capsules are produced freely, 

 and seeds are shed in countless numbers. Some of these seeds 

 doubtless survive and germinate, but the vast proportion of 

 them must perish. Many attempts have been made to 

 cultivate them artificially, but, so far as the writer can 

 ascertain, such attempts have been unsuccessful. Very little 

 indeed is known about this mode of propagation." 



In observations of many years, covering many localities, and 

 having collected and observed many species in thousands of 

 plants, I had been forcibly struck with the absence of seedling 

 plants. Indeed, I have never yet seen anywhere what I could 

 faithfully determine to be a seedling terrestrial orchid. Further, 

 seeds of many species were sown for several years, and in many 

 ways, but none of the seeds ever germinated. 



Nature has gifted most plants with what might be termed 

 the " double chance." Geraniums grow easily from seeds — 

 so do roses, so do carnations ; but they may also be reproduced 

 by the propagation of cuttings. They will, as well, root readily 

 when the growths come in contact with the soil. Daffodils 

 i:)roduce seed, so do gladioli and liliums : but all of these are 

 reproduced far more readily l)y l)ulb or corm reproduction, 

 and increase inniergroitiid. And it is this underground increase 

 that has been given to orchids in order that the spc^cies may 

 continue and increase. iMtzgerald noticed this in several 

 species, but he proposed certain limitations, which have since 

 been proved erroneous. Dr. Rogers adds that a great pro- 

 portion of terrestrial orchids must depend for their propagation 

 very largely upon \-egetative reproduction. There is now no 

 doubt whatever that the very large majority, and perhaps the 

 whole, of our terrestrial orchids increase their species by 

 multiplication of the tubers or tuberous roots underground. 



