424 Transactions.—Botany. 
past season. Out of all the flowers of the above species, and of P. graminea, 
examined, not one had the pollinia removed. The flowers are incapable of 
self-fertilization. Certain experiments made by me to test whether they 
were fertile with thcir own pollen were rendered useless by being conducted 
in the open, where the flowers were liable to be destroyed. 
The rostellum of this orchid, when examined in bud, lies in front of and 
between the bases of the pollinia, but quite separate from them. At this 
early stage it consists of an oblong, pearly-white body, composed of large 
rounded cells, filled with granular fluid. The pollinia stand in a small 
hollow on the top of the column, and at this stage are attached only by a 
small posterior ligament at their base. 
(7.) Chiloglottis cornuta. 
In this species the flower is solitary, on a short scape, which lengthens 
after flowering, and is partly covered by an acute, sheathing bract. When 
fully developed, all the parts stand nearly erect, and thus leave no landing 
place for insects. The labellum is acutely trowel-shaped, with one broad 
central, and several narrow, lateral, longitudinal, purple glands. The 
column is curved back at the base, and then ascends in front of the upper 
sepal. The stigmatic surface is large, almost circular, quite flat and exces- 
sively viscid, there being no distinct rostellum. The anther is terminal, 
and encloses four plate-like pollinia, which are coherent, and are attached 
by their bases to the upper margin of the stigma (rostellum). Before the 
flower is open, and while yet almost sessile, and sheathed by the bract, the 
stigmatic surface becomes excessively viscid, and smears all the portion of 
the labellum immediately opposite to it. I could not ascertain how the 
pollen got on to the stigma, but in the few flowers I was enabled to examine, 
all four pollinia were on the stigma, and the anther cells were empty. 
From the position of the flower when the parts are ripe for pollination, 
viz., low down between the two leaves, from its inconspicuous greenish 
colour, and the fact that viscidity is strongest in the unopened flowers, I am 
of opinion that this species is exclusively adapted for self-fertilization. The 
subsequent lengthening of the scaps is probably only to aid in the dispersion 
of the seed. 
(8.) Lyperanthus antarcticus. 
In this orehid the flowers are solitary, or two on a scape, partially 
covered by a relatively large concave bract, and of a green colour through- 
out. The posterior sepalis large and broad, arched forward, and covering 
the column like a hood. The labellum is flat, broadly ovate and acute, quite 
glabrous, with two lateral and four median ridges. The column is broad, 
somewhat arched forward, and terminated by the acute anther. The ros: 
tellum placed directly above the stigmatic chamber, impinges on the base 
