100 



Pterostylis vittata, Lindley ; F. v. M., op. cit., p. 120 (Ord. Orchideaj > 



Robust, loitJi the numerous leaves of the stem narrow lanceolate, 

 having a broad base surroimdiug the stem, the edge slightly- 

 recurved ; no radical leaves, the ftoral leaves similar to the 

 others ; flowers in a leafy raceme, nine in number, or fewer, 

 here and there only two, rarely with only one ; the lower lip of 

 the calyx orhicular-ovate, and hangiiiff down, of a deep red, and 

 split into two sharp, short lohes ; the upper lip below the middle 

 line much swollen longitudinally, with broad striations, which 

 are slightly red, and the interspaces lighter-coloured, ribbed, 

 and shortly tufted, at an acute angle with the lower lip, and 

 equal in length to it ; the lalellum oval-shaped, with a straight 

 edge, apex slightly blunted, and also a little bent in and 

 ciliated, from the slighth/ two-lohed base of tohich (the lalellum') 

 is produced a semi-lanceolate linear tooth, which is a little ciliated 

 and adnate below. The labellum towards its centre swells on 

 both sides, and has a dark-red colour ; the column is produced 

 on both sides at the base into a semi-oval membrane; above, it is 

 dilated on both sides into an appeadar/e tending upwards, lohich is 

 almost sqicare, toith a blunt point, toothed at the base, subulate and 

 semi-lanceolate, and furnished witli somewhat long hairs. 



Spread over West Australia and the neighbourhood of Swan 

 River, as far as to the regions about King Greorge's Sound ; in 

 the valleys near Mount Lofty (Mueller), near Port Phillip 

 (Walter), on Wilson's Promontory (JlueUer). 



[It is not uncommon and gregarious under the shade of trees 

 at high elevations on the Mount Lofty Range, also at Ulev, 

 Munno Para East, and at MacLaren Vale, Hundred of Wi'l- 

 lunga; Ardrossan (Univ. Herb.)] 



The species can only be confounded with P. longifolia, but n 

 is often more robust, with broader leaves, the bracts as if 

 changed into leaves, the flowers therefore more axillary than 

 racemose, the calyx of a deep colour, or slightly red-tinted and 

 more strongly striated, the lower lip broader and almost 

 gibbous, the surface of the labellum smooth, with the basal 

 tooth sharp and plain and not roughened, the labellum also 

 furnished with a swollen curved point, and less elongated ; the 

 column distinctly winged below, and furnished above with 

 appendages elongated downwards. 



In the taller examples (i.e., those about two feet high) the 

 lower part of the stem to the length of a span bears scales 

 instead of leaves. Capsules ovate-ellipsoid, one-half to three- 

 fourths of an inch long. I^abellum easily excited by a light 

 touch, as in its allies. Column, and the part below the apex, 

 warty. P. vittata is earlier in its time of flowering than P. 

 longifolia, generally about 3Iay to July the flowers appear j 



