Orchidee.) FLORA OF TASMANIA. 13 
Distris. Victoria, Mueller, ete. 
1 find it extremely difficult to distinguish this from P. alpinum. Archer defines this as having the lateral 
sepals free, or united at the base only, whilst in P. alpinum they are united along their lower half; but 1 find that 
this partial connection of the sepals affords no constant character. The most prominent difference at first sight 
appears to me to be the darker, often dusky colour of P. fuscum, which has much narrower petals and sepals ; it is 
also inodorous.—PLATÉ CXII. B. Fig. 1, side, and 2, front views of flower; 3, side view of column and labellum ; 
4, front view of column ; 5, pollen :—all magnified. 
B. GENOPLESIUM.— Anther pedicellate, with a terminal beak, Labellum clawed. Dorsal sepal adherent to back of 
column. Lateral sepals larger than the dorsal.—(Genoplesium, Br.) 
9. Prasophyllum brachystachyum (Lindl. Gen. et Sp. Orchid. 513) ; scapo aphyllo gracili infra 
apicem l-bracteato, spica pauciflora, floribus horizontalibus v. deflexis, ovariis turgidis breve pedicellatis, 
bracteis brevissimis truncatis, sepalis petalisque acutissimis lateralibus longioribus basi connatis subsac- 
catis, labelli unguiculati lanceolati lamina adnata inconspicua marginibus planiusculis, staminodiis elongatis 
apice bifidis membranaceis glaberrimis.—Genoplesium Baueri, Br. Prodr. 319. (Gunn, 930.) 
Has. Sandy soil: Circular Head, and Hampshire Hills, Rocky Cape, Gunn.—(Fl. Dec., Jan.) 
Tuber as large as a Hazel-nut. Base of the scape covered thickly with withered, sheathing scales. Scape 
very slender, 3-8 inches long, with one appressed, truncate sheath at the base, and one sheathing, acuminate bract, 
placed towards the top, but removed from the spike. Spike of six to ten, horizontally spreading, shortly pedicelled, 
small, yellowish flowers. Bracts very minute, truncate. Ovary cylindrical, turgid. Perianth horizontal, 4 inch 
long. Lateral sepals rather saccate at the base, then coherent, lanceolate-acuminate; dorsal broadly ovate, very 
concave, acuminate. Petals shorter than the sepals, ovate-lanceolate, with long, acuminate apices. Lip as long as 
the petals, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, erose at the margin, the adnate lamella blending at the margin into its 
substance, grooved down the centre. Staminodia oblong, deeply bifid, membranous.— This Archer has identified 
with the Genoplesium Baueri of Brown, described from Bauer's drawing. This drawing, which Mr. Brown has 
kindly allowed us to examine, accurately represents our plant in all but the apparent confounding of the petals 
with the staminodia in the magnified analyses. 
10. Prasophyllum nudiscapum (Hook. fil.) ; scapo aphyllo gracili ad apicem bractea parva in- 
structo, spica brevissima pauciflora, floribus horizontalibus pedicellatis minute bracteolatis, ovariis cylindra- 
ceis turgidis, sepalis petalisque acutissimis lateralibus longioribus basi connatis non saccatis, labelli ungui- 
culati lanceolati marginibus planiusculis erosis, lamella adnata inconspicua, staminodiis breviusculis late 
bidentatis membranaceis glaberrimis. 
Has. Sandy soil: near Hobarton, J. D. H.—(Fl. Aug.) 
Of this curious little species I have seen only the few specimens gathered by myself, which are passing into 
fruit, and one from Victoria. It is closely allied and very similar indeed to P. brachystachyum, but distinguishable 
at once by the bract of the scape being placed close under the spike; it has, further, fewer smaller flowers, shorter 
staminodia, and a narrower labellum, with more erose margins. Younger specimens are however necessary to com- 
plete the description of the flower. 
11. Prasophyllum despectans (Hook. fil.) ; scapo gracillimo aphyllo apicem versus bractea vagi- 
nante instructo, spica elongata, floribus curvis perianthio deflexo atro-purpureo, ovario brevi cylindraceo 
pedicellato, bracteola minima, sepalis acutissimis lateralibus setaceo-lanceolatis basi connatis non saccatis 
dorsali late ovato aeuminato longioribus, petalis ovato-lanceolatis acutissimis, labello unguiculato lanceolato 
acuminato marginibus integris, lamina adnata definita simplici, staminodiis subulatis falcatis incurvis gla- 
berrimis. (Tas. CXII. 4.) 
VOL. II. E 
