678 ORCHIDES. [Pterostylis. 
Lip attached by a short claw to the basal projection of the column, 
mobile ; lamina linear or oblong, produced at the base above the 
claw into a long or short usually curved appendage. Column 
elongated, incurved, furnished on each side of the rostellum with a 
quadrangular or hatchet-shaped membranous wing, the base pro- 
duced into a horizontal projection. Stigma on the face of the 
column below the wings, oblong. Anther terminal, erect, 2-celled ; 
pollinia 4, granular, free. 
About 40 species are known. Of the 11 found in New Zealand, 2 are com- 
mon Australian plants, the others are endemic. The remainder of the genus is 
Australian, with the exception of one species in New Caledonia. The mode of 
fertilisation is most curious, and is well worth an attentive study. The upper 
sepal and petals connive, and form a hood, at the back of which the column is 
situated. The irritable lip hangs out of the entrance to the flower, and forms a 
convenient landing-place for insects. When touched by an insect it springs up, 
carrying the insect with it, and imprisoning it within the flower. The insect can 
only escape by crawling up the column and passing between the two membranous 
projecting wings, emerging directly in front of the anther. In doing this, it is 
first smeared with viscid matter from the projecting rostellum, and then drags 
away the pollinia, which can hardly fail to adhere to its sticky body. When 
visiting another flower, it must pass over the stigma before escaping, and is 
almost certain to leave some of the pollinia on its viscid surface. For a fuller 
account, see a paper by myself in Trans. N.Z. Inst. v. 352. 
A, Antennea. Lower lip erect, its lobes narrowed into long points embracing 
the galea. 
*No broad radical leaves. Cauline leaves linear, grass-like, sheathing the 
whole stem, 
Tall, 6-18in. Leaves }4in. broad. Flower large, 2-3 in. 
long; sepals and Shy produced into long filiform 
points 3 . 1. P. Banksn- 
Short, stout, 4-10 in. "Leaves 4-Zin. broad. Flower small, 
Z-1f in. long ; sepals and petals with short subulate 
points - 2. P. australis. 
Slender, 4— 10i in. Leaves ue in. broad. Flower small, 
+-# in. long; sepals and petals with short subulate points 3. P. graminea. 
** Radical leaves broad, oblong to ovate or orbicular, few or numerous and 
rosulate. Cauline leaves narrow, often reduced to sheathing bracts. 
Slender, 4-12in. Lower leaves 3-1}in., oblong; cauline 
2-5, lanceolate, flat. Flower ?-ldin.; galea not de- 
curved : Fie Af ae .. 4, P. micromega. 
Stout or slender, 6-12in. Lower leaves large, 14-34 in., 
broadly oblong; cauline few, large, flat. Flower 
1-13 in., galea much decurved at the tip Ap 5. P. Oliveri. 
Stout, glabrous, 2-8in. Lower leaves subrosulate, 1-131 in. 5 
elliptic- oblong ; cauline of 1 or 2 sheathing bracts. Flower 
2in.; galea arched but not decurved . 6. P. foliata, 
Small. 2-3in. Lower leaves 2 or 3, large, 3- 2 in., broadly 
oblong ; cauline wanting. Flower 4-3 in. a 7. P. venosa. 
Slender, glabrous, 2-8in. Lower leaves long- petioled ; 
blade +-4in., ovate; cauline narrow, flat. Flower 3-lin. 8. P. trullifolia. 
Puberulous, 2-6in. Lower leaves short- petioled; blade 
small, ovate ; cauline of 2-4 sheathing bracts. Flowers 
4-4 in. ve ae se is 56 .. 9. P. puberula. 
