24 FLORA OF TASMANIA. [ Orchidee. 
Gen. XI. MICROTIS, Br. 
Perianthium herbaceum, ringens. Sepalum dorsale cum petalis parvis linearibus in galeam connivens ; 
lateralia labello supposita. Zabellum dissimile, oblongum, obtusum, integerrimum v. lobatum, callis glan- 
dulisve instructum. Columna nana, infundibuliformis, utrinque auricula membranacea aucta. Anthera 
terminalis, mutica.  Po//inia 4.—Herbze terrestres, glabre ; radicibus e tuberis oblongis nudis indivisis ; 
folio caulino solitario, tereti, Jistuloso, basi vaginante ; floribus herbaceis, parvis, viridibus, dense spicatis. 
A common genus in temperate Australia and New Zealand, of which about a dozen species are known. A 
species is found in New Caledonia, and another in Java. These are very variable in stature, but uniform in general 
characters, forming rather stout, green herbs, with small, green, densely spiked flowers, and a single, terete, fistu- 
lose leaf. —Roots of undivided oblong tubers. Perianth herbaceous, green, of one dorsal, rather large, concave 
sepal, parallel to and on each side of which is a small linear sepal, Lateral sepals placed under the green, oblong 
labellum, which is furnished with granulated, callous bodies on its surface. Column small, terete, with expanded 
margins. (Name from puxpos, small, and ovs, an ear.) 
I have characterized three species of this genus, following Brown’s and Lindley’s descriptions, and Archer’s 
notes and drawings, but I am unable to distinguish the dried specimens, and 1 suspect that many intermediate 
and aberrant forms will be found. 
1. Microtis pulchella (Br. Prodr. 321); sepalis lateralibus petalisque patentibus ovali-oblongis 
obtusiusculis acuminatisve, labello oblongo bilobo apicem versus callo granuloso, margine crispato, callis 
basi confluentibus.— Lindl. Gen. et Sp. Orch. 395. (Gunn, 915, 918.) (Tas. CXVIII. 4.) 
Has. Abundant in sandy soil throughout the Island.—(Fl. Nov., Dec.) 
DisrarB. New South Wales, Victoria, and South-west Australia. 
Stems 6 inches to 2 feet high, slender or robust. Flowers very variable in size, as is the ovarium. Sepals and 
petals blunt. Labellum with erisped margins, oblong, blunt, or two-lobed at the apex, having one granular callus 
more or less developed towards the apex, and two confluent ones at the base.—PraTE CXVIII. 4. Fig. 1, front, 
and 2, side view of flower; 3, labellum; 4, front, and 5, side views of column :—all magnified. 
2. Microtis arenaria (Lindl. Gen. et Sp. Orch. 396) ; sepalis lateralibus petalisque ovali- v. lineari- 
oblongis obtusis acuminatisve, labello oblongo retuso margine planiusculo apicem versus callo granuloso, 
callis basi confluentibus.— An M. media, Br.? (Gunn, 354, 916.) (Tas. CXVIII. B.) 
Has. Sandhills near the sea: Circular Head, Guna.—(Vl. Dec.) 
DisrriB. New South Wales and Victoria. | 
Quite similar to large states of M. pulchella, and only distinguishable by the more plane labellum, that has not 
erisped margins, is less strongly lobed, and has the calli less developed.—PrATE CXVIII, 2. Fig. 1, front, and 
2, side view of flower; 3, labellum ; 4, front, and 5, side view of column :—g7J magnified. 
AC | rara (Br. Prodr. 321); spica rariflora, sepalis lateralibus revolutis petalisque lineari- 
oblongis acutis, labello oblongo retuso marginibus subundulatis callis basi confluentibus apice subcalloso.— 
Lindl. Gen. et Sp. Orch. 396. M. frutetorum, Schlecht. (Gunn, 917.) 
Has. Wet places: Circular Head, Hampshire Hills, ete., Lawrence, Gunn ; Cheshunt, Archer.—(Fl 
Dec.) 
Disrris. New South Wales and Victoria. 
My Tasmanian species are a different-looking plant from either of the preceding, 
cept by being more slender, with more 
acuminate. Zabellum with less undulat 
but not easily characterized, ex- 
sparse and more erect flowers.— Lateral sepals and petals acute, the former 
ed margins than in pulchella, and a more obscure callus towards the tip. 
