Jan., J Pfc;cott AXD Frexcti, OrcJiid s K ew foY Victori a. 107 



ON FOUR ORCHIDS NEW FOR VICTORIA. 



By E. E. Pescott, F.L.S., and C. Frenxh, jun. 



{Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, i ith Oct., 1920.) 



It is the intention of Dr. R. S. Rogers, M.A., the well-known 

 orchidologist of Adelaide, to place on record, in the Proceedings 

 of the Royal Society of South Australia, four orchids new for 

 Victoria, two of which are new to science. 



Caladenia iridescens, Rogers, n. sp. — -This orchid was col- 

 lected by one of us (E. E. P.) on the rocky slopes of the hills 

 close to the Splitters' Falls, in the Grampians, in October, 

 IQ13. Specimens were sent to Dr. Rogers, who laid them 

 aside for mature consideration. In structure the orchid is 

 not unlike C. cons^esta, but it is much more slender, and the 

 colour is a beautifully iridescent red-bronze. Specimens were 

 collected in the Grampians a few days later by Mr. J. W. 

 Audas, F.L.S. The specific name has reference to the 

 iridescence of the flower, and the vernacular name suggested 

 is " Bronzy Caladenia." 



Caladenia alba, R. Br. — This orchid was described b\^ Robert 

 Brown, and is figured by Fitzgerald in his " Australian 

 Orchids." It must not be confused with the albino form of 

 Caladenia carnea, which is fairly common. Tlic arrangement 

 of the petals and sepals is similar to tliat of ('. carnea in that 

 two sepals and the two petals stand out like four outstretched 

 fingers, while the dorsal sepal stands up above the column, 

 but not as a hood. The colour is pure white, with a sugges- 

 tion of heliotrope, while the flower is quite as large, if not 

 larger, than Glossodia major. Three specimens were found at 

 the end of September last, on the slopes of Mount Dandenong, 

 by Master Jack French. The specimens were not in close 

 proximity, but were far removed from each other. The 

 common name suggested is " White Caladenia." 



Caladenia cordiformis, Rogers, n. sp. — Last year we received 

 from Western Australia specimens of von Mueller's Caladenia 

 Cairnsiana. These specimens differed in so many ways from 

 the accepted Victorian specimens that reference was made to 

 the " Flora Australiensis " and to the " Fragmenta Phytographie 

 Australie " for confirmation. We then found that the western 

 specimens agreed with the published description, but that the 

 generally accepted Victorian specimens of C. Cairnsiana certainly 

 did not. It was too late in the season to send fresh specimens 

 of C. Cairnsiana to Adelaide ; dried specimens were sent, and 

 this season an ample supply of fresh flowers was forwardinl to 

 Dr. Rogers. Dr. Rogers has decided that this orchid is 



