14 FLOBA OP AUSTRALIA. 



and of a yellow colour, and D. elongata which is of a purplish 

 colour. If we take the extreme variations of D. maculata and D. 

 aurecr, they appear perfectly distinct and probably are so ; but 

 sometimes intermediate varieties occur which are somewhat per- 

 plexing. During the last spring, I examined some scores of these 

 orchids, and not unfrequently met with individuals that scarcely 

 agreed with either of Brown's descriptions. Brown also described 

 D. emarginata, D. setacea, D. pedunculata, D. sulphurea, D. pauci- 

 flora, D. alba, and _D. longifolia, to which Dr. E. Mueller now adds 

 D.filifolia, D.pwrifolia, D. palustris, and D. corymbosa. 



(3.) OrtJioceras strictum comes very near to the preceding 

 genus. With us it is a rare plant, but Dr. E. Mueller mentions it 

 amongst those orchids which occur frequently in Victoria. 



(4.) Cryptostylis longifolia belongs to this district, and flowers 

 late in the season. G. erecta is found on the Blue Mountains ; 

 and, according to Dr. E. Mueller C. ovata has been collected in 

 the district of Plantagenet and Stirling's Range. 



(5.) The species of PrasopJiyllum most common here are P. 

 patens, P. elatum, P.fimbriatum, and P. rufum ; but Dr. E. Mueller 

 recognises amongst the specimens which I have forwarded to him, 

 P. IracJiystaeJiywn, from the neighbourhood of Sydney (Brown's 

 Genoplesium Baueri), and also another from the Blue Mountains, 

 which he has named P. Wbollsii. The remaining species en- 

 umerated by Brown are: P. Australe, P. macrostacTiyu'm, P. 

 flavum, P. alpinum, P. nigricans, and P. fimlriatwn, to which we 

 may add the doctor's list P. ArcJieri, P. despectans, P. parvifolium. 

 and P. brevilabre ; but it seems highly probable that, as the species 

 are brought under cultivation, the number will be reduced. 

 P. elatum is one of our largest orchids, being sometimes three or 

 four feet high. 



(6.) SpirantJies Australis (probably the same as Brown's 

 Neottia Australis), is a small plant with pinkish flowers in twisted 

 spikes, and common on some of the creeks to the north of Parra- 

 matta ; but it is one of those which easily escape the notice of the 

 casual observer. It occurs in various parts of Victoria. 



(7.) Oalochilus Australianus, under which name Dr. F. Mueller 

 includes the two varieties of this plant, is very, abundant in this 

 district in the month of October. The long, dark-coloured beard 

 is well defined ; but the species is subject to considerable variation, 



