The South Australian Naturalist. 47 



From a horticultural point of vieAv. our species cannot be 

 compared with the Cattleyas, Laelias, Odontoglossums, and 

 Oncidiuffis of tropical America ; the Phalaenopsis, Aerides, and 

 Vandas of India and Malaya ; and the Angraecums of Africa, 

 and some of the Dendrobes of India. 



Although generally speaking the plants are not particular 

 as to their hosts, several have been noticed as partial in their 

 choice ; for instance, Dendrobium canaliculatum and D. lingui- 

 forme to the common Tea Tree (Melaleuca leucadendron), D. 

 aemulum to the Brisbane Box (Tristania conferta), D. mono- 

 phyllum to large-growing species of Ficus. The late Mr. R. D. 

 Fitzgerald, a great authority on Australian orchids, refers to 

 quite a number of species as being partial to Myrtles, Figs. 

 Sassafras, and Casuarinas (Shea Oaks). 



The following are a few of the indigenous ei)iphytical 

 orchids which have been noticed in cultivation in various public 

 or private gardens in Australia : — Dendrobium undulatum pro- 

 duces stems several meet in length, it is found on rocks and 

 trees in the northern part of Queensland ; the brownish, waved 

 flowers are produced in quantity on long racemes. Dendrobium 

 speciosum is a species with short thick stems and is usually 

 found growing on rocks, hence in New South Wales it is called 

 the '^rock lily." There are several vareities; Hillii or Tar-beri 

 of the Brisbane aborigines produces long stems and flowering 

 racemes two feet or more long. The colour of the flower varies 

 from almost white to shades of yellow. The variety nitidum is 

 found in North Queensland and has shorter racemes and smaller 

 flowers than those of the normal form. 



D. teretifolium or Pencil Orchid is a graceful species vdiose 

 stems in the early spring are covered with racemes of beautiful 

 white flowers. It is found all along the Queensland coast line. 

 D. canaliculatum usually makes it home on the Tea trees and is 

 known in North Queensland by the name of Onion Orchid. The 

 colouring of the flower is exquisite, the white petals and sepals 

 being tipped with yellow, while the lip is a rich mauve. The 

 Tongue Orchid (D. linguiforme) forms masses on rocks and Tea 

 trees. It is most floriferous and is one of the easiest to cultivate. 

 D. cucumerinum is a quaint looking species with leaves re- 

 sembling gherkins, hence the name. It is fairly common on 

 trees growing on ranges in South Queensland and New South 

 Wales. The flowers are yellowish-white streaked with reddish 

 purple. 



D. bigibbum and its superb varieties flower in the autumn 

 and are well known to orchid growers all the world over. The 

 ttjour of tht blossom is usually of a mauve shade, but a pure 



