120 'THE VICTORIAN jSrATUllALISti 



I have liere followed Benthaiu and Mueller, and have placed the 

 species of this genus according to their sections, conimencing with 

 Section 1 — Euprasotihyllum. 



Labelluni sessile at base of th ecolunin. 



F. elatum (R. Brown.) — This fine and showy species of this most 

 interesting genus, will I dare say be known to most orchid collectors 

 by the not inappropriate name of the ISTative Leek, its resemblance 

 to the latter well-known vegetable being in my opinion quite, 

 sufficient to justify its generic derivation. In the damp sandy 

 patches of the Epacris. scrubs this singularly striking plant may be 

 found growing to a height of nearly 3 feet, and I shall never forget 

 my great delight when 1 in company with Mr. Schlipaulis, in 1862, 

 first found it growing on a small conical hill, not far from the now 

 celebrated Caulfield Racecourse, and being in the vicinity some time 

 since, I made a visit to the same little hill, where, instead of its 

 former beauty, I noticed on it not a trace of a plant of any kind, 

 and a small white flag, a few surveyor's pegs, and sundry empty 

 bottles and tins, were all that was visible as a remnant of its former 

 glory. This plant in common with many others, seems to thrive 

 better the season following a bush fire, not that I think the ashes 

 have much to do with this matter, but no doubt when the scrub is 

 cleared and the space opened up, it comes up nmch stronger, and 

 forms a more robust and more beautiful plant, than when struggling 

 with the surrounding hardy vegetation in order to gain the 

 ascendancy. I must confess that I have been sometimes quite 

 puzzled about this j)lant, as well as Avith that of P. Jlavum^ for I 

 have seen them growing very strongly in a particular spot, and the 

 next season I have revisited the same place and ha^-e been unable to 

 find a single plant, but then the paddock had not been burned, so 

 this perhaps will account for it. The flowers o f this species are as 

 a rule of a dark olive green , sometimes seemingly nearlv blacky and 

 as they can be seenlrom a distance of several hundred yards, there 

 will be little fear of overlooking it. To grow this species, it should 

 be dug ;up if possible, either before or after flowering, the latter 

 being preferable. It should be placed in a large pot or pan, in black 

 sand, wtII drained, and mixed with chopped roots of the native 

 heath plants, as Lej)tospermum, Ricinocarnus . &c., and with a little 

 attention and plenty of clean water it will thrive very well indeed. 

 As its stout stem, blackish looking flowers, and unusual appearance, 

 will render it easy of recognition, it will perhaps be unnecessary to 

 describe it further. Flowers ^ in October and I ^ovember . Found 

 also in New South Wales, Tasmania, South and' West Australia, 

 P. aiiM.rn.lp. of Lindley, not of R. Brown, is identical with this 

 species. 



(To be continued.) 



