325 



Orchids of Tropical Australia conspecific with species in 



New Guinea. 

 Eulophia venosa, Rchb. 



Malay Archipelago. 



Geodoriiin pictiim, Lindl. 

 Vanda Hindsii, Lindl. 

 Dendrohium hifalce, Lindl. 

 D. undulatum, Br. 

 D. Gouldii, Rchb. f. 

 D. gracilicaule, F. v. M. 

 D. Smilliae, F. v. M. 

 D. Johnsoniae, F. v. M. 



Nervilia flabelliformis, Lindl. 

 Didymoplexis pall ens, Griff. 



Pholidota imhricata, Lindl. 

 Calanthe veratrifolia, R. Br. 



Corymbis irrafrifolia, Richb. f. 



Epipogum nutans, Lindl. 



Oheronia iridifolia, Lindl. 

 Phaiits grandifolius. Lour. 

 Pholidota imhricata, Lindl. 

 Calanthe veratrifolia, R. Br. 

 Luisia teretifolia, Gaud. 

 C. veratrifolia, Rchb. f. 

 Spiranthes, australis, Lindl. 

 Goodyera viridifiora, Bl. 

 Microtis parvi flora, R. Br. 

 Caladenia carnea, R. Br. 

 E. nutans, Lindl. 



In addition to these conspecific orchids there are a number which are 

 sectionally represented in New Guinea, such, for example, as Oheronia palmi- 

 cola, F. V. M. ; Dendrohium higihhum, Lindl. ; D. dicuphum, F. v. M. ; D. 

 Sumneri, F. v. M. ; D. phalaenopsis, Fitzg. ; D. superhiens, Fitzg. ; D. aemulum, 

 R. Br.; D. tetragonum, A. Cunng. ; D. Moorci, F. v. M. ; Sarcochilus falcatus, 

 R. Br. 



When we consider these lists, we are forced to the conclusion that we are 

 dealing with an almost exclusively immigrant flora, which in all but a few instances 

 can be traced back into Asia proper. This flora of exotic origin, would appear 

 to comprise about two-thirds of the entire genera of our continent. 



It is also evident, from the comiparatively small number of species in common, 

 that this flora has been resident in Australia sufficiently long to allow a con- 

 siderable amount of differentiation to take place. 



On the other hand, judging from the very few Australian types, such as 

 Microtis, R. Br. ; Thelymitra, Forst. ; Caladenia, R. Br. ; and possibly Dipodium, 

 R. Br., to be found in the Malayan flora, the emigration northwards must have 

 exerted only a slight or negligible influence. 



Some of the better developed Papuan and Malayan genera are but weakly 

 represented in Australia, and others not at all. For example, in German New 

 Guinea alone, Phreatia, Taeniophyllum, and Microstylis number 75, 59, and 48 

 species, respectively, whereas with us they are monotypic ; on the other hand, 

 Agrostophyllum, and Glossorhyncha, each with 32 species, are unknown in this 

 country. 



It is also somewhat surprising, that situated so closely as it is to the great 

 developing centre for Dendrohium and Bulhophyllum in New Guinea, we should 

 not be better represented in species belonging to these prolific genera. At least 

 500 Papuan species of each of them have been described, and yet in the whole of 

 our continent, there have only been recorded 48 species of Dendrohium and 

 16 of Bulhophyllum. 



