268 CXX. ORCHIDES. 
incumbent on or adnate to the apex of the column or to the back of the 
ps So eps 2 cells on its inner face or almost marginal. In the genus 
which is not Australian, and in Apostasia, there are two 
appen 8 el s exsibed às aithi) n each side 
nd the ` 
valves or longitudinal slits, or very rarely succulent and indehiscent. 
Seeds m fusiform or rarel Meer resembling fine sawdust. 
creeping rhizomes and (often ini je jv adherin to the sur- 
face of rocks or trunks or branches o . Leaves either alternate and 
sheathing at the base and so feet ‘dinnistions, on iip stems 
ri 
bulbs distinet from the flowering reed entire or "i d lobed (see 
Acianthus). Flowering stems scapes or pe reme — renewed, 
either ae directly from the Si Lars axillar n perennial 
ms or pseudo-bulbs, bearing usually one or more pie rious OT 
tp eect sheathing scales, either re any leaves, or when leafy 
1 or 2 sheathing scales below the leaves and often 1 or more above 
the: Flowers either solitary and come or 2 or more in à terminal 
raceme or spike, either simple or branching intoa panicle, each flower 
sessile or more ae pedicellate within a bract, but without brac- 
teoles on the p 
The Order is one W the most natural and sharply defined, as well as the most nume 
, rous amongst Monocotyledons after Gra amine, and abundantly distributed over the 
whole globe, rare mes in some high Alpine or extreme Arctic and Antarcti ic regions. 
deze otti 
hrydez belong to the mpi A datio Vioc e presented iu Australia by sandeha or 
frequently 3s identical species. These are all tipici or eastern, some exte tending dow? 
