226 



Aftei- a careful examination of the plants I am forced 

 to one of two conclusions, either of which is equally interest- 

 ing : — 



(1) That this orchid is a new and, perhaps, sparsely dis- 

 tributed species, which may have hitherto escaped observa- 

 tion on account of its association with two other common 

 species which it superficially resembles ; or, 



(2) That the new form is a cross between Glossodia major 

 and CnladenJa defoi'inis. 



The lack of total agreement between the two specimens 

 makes the first hypothesis difficult to sustain, unless confir- 

 matory evidence should be forthcoming. Then, too, few of 

 our districts have been so systematically searched as Black- 

 wood, and it seems improbable that a new species of this type 

 should have escaped detection so long. In this connection, 

 however, we must remember that certain species occur with 

 singular infrequency. Some six years ago an isolated speci- 

 men of Caleana major was discovered at Mylor, but in spite 

 of the most diligent search on the part of collectors, no other 

 specimen has been found in the State since that time. The 

 alternative conclusion, that it is a hybrid, is favoured by the 

 slight disagreement between the two specimens, and on the 

 whole seems to me to be rather the more reasonable hypothesis. 

 However rare hybridization between genera may be in 

 the case of most plants, it is certainly not unknoM^n amongst 

 the orchids, and probably indicates the arbitrary nature of 

 certain distinctions, which have been used in their classifica- 

 tion. Should a crossing between the two species mentioned 

 be possible, the fact would suggest even a closer affinity be- 

 tween the Caladenias and the Glossodias than is generally con- 

 ceded, and would seem to justify Reichenbach's contention 

 that thp latter genus nhould be included under the former. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XI. 



A. Side view. B. Front view. C. Baok view. D. Enlarge- 

 ment to show front view of column and labellum. E. Side view 

 of oolumn and labellum. showinor e;olf-.stiok and sentinel calll. 



