54 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



Dividing Ranges, Gippsland Grampians, &c., I liave seen this 

 superb species growing in the greatest luxuriance, often from 2 to 4 

 feet in height. It should be sought for on table land, and not in 

 the gullies. It is somewhat difficult of removal, as the large tubers 

 are nearly always found in the hardest ground in the district, and 

 almost invariably amongst some roots or stumps which render it as 

 I Lave b8f(n'e remarked, difficult to obtain the tubers without 

 damaging them, which in this case, entirely destroys them. In 

 lifting this species, (also Gastro.lia,) a spade, and care should be 

 use<l, as it is next to impossible to lift them entire with an ordinary 

 collecting trowel. This species flowers about the end of December, 

 and unfortunately, it seldom keeps its color in the Plerbarium. To 

 grow it, good strong loam should be used, water being sparingly 

 given. The soil should be well pressed dovrn in the pot, and it 

 must have ample room. This species if well grown, would be a 

 valuable addition to our collections of the Victorian Oi'chidt'se. Many 

 years ago, I found two fine specimens growing on the bank of the 

 River Yarra, near the present site of the Horticultural Society's 

 Gardens, and of late it has baen found at Brighton ; it is, however, 

 pretty generally distributed throughout the Colony. 



Dendrobium Functatum, sp. (J. Smith,) is synonymous with this 

 sp?cies. Found in Victoria, New South Wales, North Australia, 

 South Australia, and Tasmania. 



Gastrodia (R. Brown.) 



Sepals and petals united in a 5 lobed tube or cup, gibbous at the 

 base under the labellum, labellum shorter than the perianth, column 

 elongated, anthers lid-like, pollen granular, stigma on a short 

 protuberance at the base of the column, herbs, parasitical on roots, 

 leafless, and not green, scapes simple, erect, with short, loosely 

 sheathing, brownish scales, flowers creamy white, in a terminal 

 raceme. 



1. Qastrodia sesamoides (R. Brown.) A large and singular 

 Orchid, found growing on Table laud in dense forests. The peculiar 

 brownish colour of the stem and flowers will render it of easy recognition, 

 there being no other species at all resembling it. This species is 

 also of very difficult removal, and seldom seems to thrive well under 

 artificial treatment, the principal reason of this being, that the 

 large tubers which (as in the preceeding species Dipodium,)gTOW in the 

 hardest soil, and almost always on, or close to a root, stump, or 

 log. Mr. Benthan does not mention this peculiarity in the genus 

 Dipodium, which, however, is as near as possible identical. In the 

 forests of Gippsland, Gem brook, Fernshaw, Dandenong, &c., this 

 species may be often found growing to a height of from one to three 

 feet or even larger, and it would, I am sure, be a fitting companion 

 to Dipodium, in any well cared for Victorian collection of Orchids. 

 The culture of Dipodium will also suffice for this species. The 

 flowers of this species dry a much better colour than those of the 

 former. Found in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and 



