THE VICTORIAJ^ XATUflALIST. 117 



norniiil forms of the plant. In habit it is erect, with leaves rather 

 broader than in most other species of tlie genus, and instead of the 

 ordinary shaped tubers peculiar to most of our terrestrial orchideaey 

 it has succulent roots (one can hardly call them tubers) not unlike 

 many of the smaller plants of the order Liliaceae, as Caesia^ 

 Chamoescilla^ &c. And this peculiarity seems to have been quite I 

 overlooked by Bentham . This is one of our easiest species to cul- I 

 tivate, and with the most ordinary care, it can be grown into gooi 

 specimens and is a fit companion for those ahvady mentioned. 

 Flowers in ISTovember , and often earlier. Height from 6 to 18 

 inches according to soil and situation. Found also in South and 

 West Australia, and in Tasmania. D. con/mbosa and D. porrifolia 

 are identical with this species. 



Diuris sulphurea (R. Br.) Stature and habit very much Ik'? 

 tho-^e of D. aurea , from which, as Bentham remarks, it is difficult to 

 distinguish without examination of the flowers . Leaves usually 

 broader than in that species. Flowers. 2 to 5, yellow, almost always 

 blotched with purple, at least at the base of the petals. The 

 descriptions of these two species in many respects so much resemble 

 each other, that I am inclined to regard them as one and the same 

 plant, although I may be, and probably am mistaken in this r spect. 

 This beautiful Orchid may be looked for generally in grassy land, and 

 in oi)en forest country, where its stout and upright habit , bright 

 orange yellow flowers^ with the purple spot as stated above, but 

 sometimes witliout it, will render it an object of easy observation. 

 This species has a wide range, and may be found nearly over the 

 whole colony. To grow it well, good leaf-mould with black sai'd, 

 seems to suit it best, and as it is of the easiaet culture, it is a gc'ne^al 

 and deserved favourite" It seems a pity that the name adopted by 

 Baron von Mueller, viz., that of D. ocu lata, was not adopted in the 

 '' Flora, ' as' besides this being a most appropriate name, it would 

 have saved considerable confusion amongst amateur orchidologists. 

 Height from 6 inches to 2 feet. Flowers in !N"ovember and 

 December. Diaris oculaia, species F. Mueller, is synonymou=^ with 

 this species. Found in Victoria, ]^ew South Wales, Tasmania 

 and South Australia. 



Diuris vedunculata . (R. Brown). Leaves s everal, at the base of 

 the stem, usually about half its length, narrow-linear, flowers 1 or 2, 

 (I have seen them with 3) , of a pale jellow, often with dark tinges 

 or lines at or near the base, petals elliptical, labellnm. longer than 

 the dorsal sepal, 3 lobed, the 2 raised longitud'nal lines far apart, 

 ending in pubescent calli at the base of the broad part of the middle 

 lobe. This pretty though very common species, may be met with in 

 nearly all sorts of situations where the soil is of a loamy nature. It 

 may be readily distinguished from any other species by its very pale 

 yellow flowers^ slender habitj_ and the very constant character of the 



