THE VICTORIAN NATU I! AI-IST. 110 



Cryptostylis., (R. Brown.) 



Flowers reversed, sepals and petals nearly similar, narrow- 

 linear-lanceolate, thin and nicmbrr.nons, the petals usually 

 smaller than the sepals, labellum l on.i^er rnd tliicker than the sepals, 

 undivided, sessile with a broad base enclosing llie column^ column _ 

 short, anther erect against the back of the stigina, or bent forward 

 over it, 2 c^'lled, pollen masses, farinaceous, flowerino- stems leafless, 

 bearing 2 or more erect s heathing scales or eniT'tv bracts, flowery 

 ratlier large, greenish yellow, with brown, red or purple labellum^ 

 several in a terminal raceme. 



C. lonqi folia. (R. Brown). Another most remarkable plant, and 

 totally unlike any other Victorian genus. This species is to be 

 found growing in boggy, sandy flats, frequently amongst rushes, and 

 in this situation it seems to flourish luxuriantly, and to assume a 

 perfectly evergreen character, which, I believe, is the only instance of 

 a non-deciduous terrestrial orchid in Victoria being so. The flower 

 of this species seems to a casual observer, to be turned upside down, 

 which, at first, gives to the flower a most singular appearance. In 

 the boggy, scrubby fli-ts near Berwick, Lillydale, Brighton, &c.,th's 

 species may be found growing in great numbers, and as in the 

 Orthoceras. it cannot be mistaken for any other orchid, so fnrther 

 descriptions than those given above will be iinneccessery. Most of 

 our oi-eliid hunters will have noticed a peculiar looking dnrk-green 

 stiff leaf, growing in the situations aliove described, and ujion 

 removal, the plant will be found to be without tubers, and the loots 

 are a mass of succulent fibres, affer the manner of many of < ur 

 LiliaceEe. This j:)lant being of the easiest culture, should l-e in 

 every collection, its only requirements being boggy soil, plenty 

 of water, and unlike most other orchiilsj ind plants generally, drain- 

 age is not an essential to its well-being. We have but the one 

 species in Victoria, although there are three others known from 

 various parts of Australia. Flowers in December and Jannarv, 

 Height from 1 to 2 feet. Found also in Queensland,' New South 

 Wales, and in Tasmania. Mai axis suhulatq and Ci-yptostylis 

 -subulata, are synonymous with this species. 



Prabophyllum. (E. Brown.) 



Flowers, reversed, dorsal sepal lanceolate or broad, concave, 

 usually arched over the column. Labellum sessile, or on a short 

 claw or claw-like basal appendage to the column, ovate, oblong or 

 lanceolate. Column very short, not winged, but Avith two lateral 

 erect appendages . Anther 2 celled, erect behind the rostellum. 

 ■Pollen masses granular, attached to a linear caadicle . Terrestrial 

 glabrous herbs with globular or ovoid underground tnbcrs^ Leaf 

 solitary, usually with a long sheath. Flower.s variously coloured, 

 often pale or greenish yellow, several or numerous in a terminal 

 spike. * 



