339 



the grass or at the edges of damp watercourses. None were collected lower than 

 5,750 feet. Their life (season) is short; in a fortnight they seem to mature 

 and go off." ,,. . , , 



Microtis oblonga, n. sp. 



Planta gracillima, circa 22-45 cm. alta; folium elongatum, gracile, lamina 

 circa 22 cm. longa. Spica laxa, fere circa 20 cm. longa. Flores minutissimi, 

 dissitissimi, pedicellis brevibus gracilibus ; ovaria gracilia oblongo-elliptica. 

 Sepalum dorsale circa 3 mm. longum, suberectum, anguste cucullatum, acutum, 

 apice leviter recurvo ; lateralia arte revoluta. Petala circa 2 mm. longa, erecta, 

 obtusa vel truncata, lineari-falcata, subconniventia cum sepalo dorsali. Labellum 

 circa 25 mm. longum, reflexum, anguste oblongum, marginibus crenulatis, basi 

 bicallosum prope apicem unicallosum. Columna robusta, brevissima, auriculis 

 comparate grandibus. 



Victoria: Cravensville, A. B. Braine ; Ringwood, E. E. Pescott and A. B. 

 Braine ; Healesville, Edith Coleman; Grampians, C. W. D'Alton. 



South Australia: Myponga, Rogers. 



A very slender plant, about 22-45 cm. high ; kaf slender, often exceeding 

 the spike. Spike lax, generally 15-22 cm. long. Flowers very small, very 

 distant, on short slender pedicels ; ovaries slender, oblong-elliptical. Dorsal sepal 

 about 3 mm. long, almost erect, narrowly hooded, acute, the apex slightly re- 

 curved; lateral sepals tightly revolute. Lateral petals about 2 mm. long, erect, 

 obtuse or truncate, linear-falcate, posterior margins overlapped by dorsal sepal. 

 Labellum about 25 mm. long, reflexed, narrowly oblong, the margins crenulated, 

 two large callosities at the base and one near the apex. Column stout, very 

 short, with relatively large auricles. Caudicle long, pollinarium easily removed 

 on a needle. 



This species is by no means uncommon in Victoria and South Australia, and 

 has hitherto been confused with M. parviflora, Br., and sometimes with M. 

 porrifolia. Spreng. The former has a labellum with entire margins which are 

 not crenulated and there is no anterior callus. The latter is a robust plant with 

 a very much larger flower than the new species, with a very wide dorsal sepal, 

 deeply emarginate labellum, and very turgid ovary ; it should be easily dis- 

 tinguished. M. oblonga approaches rather closely to M. truncata, Rogers, a 

 Western Australian species. In the latter, however, the labellum is at least 

 as long as the dorsal sepal, the ovary is much twisted, and the calli on the labellum 

 assume curious shapes, hastate or crescentric, whereas in the former they are 

 rounded. 



The labellum is occasionally very slightly notched at the apex, and in 

 dried specimens, owing to shrinkage, it often shows a marked lateral contraction, 

 a feature which is seldom marked in the living specimen. It blooms in November 

 and December. 



Pterostylis decurva, n. sp. 



Glabra, gracillima, circa 10-20 cm. aka. Folia radicalia fere 3, ovata vel 

 ovalia, petiolis gracillimis sublongis; caulina bracteata, 4-5, sessilia, lineari- 

 lanceolata, acuminata, circa 0'5-2'5 cm. longa. Flos solitarius, viridis, subgrandis. 

 Galea apice filiformi decurvissimo instructa. Labium inferius erectum, cuneatum, 

 sinu latissimo ; lobi saepe 4-5 cm. longi, apicibus filif ormibus instructi. Labellum 

 unquiculatum, lineari-oblongum, apice obtusum ; lamina circiter 11 cm. longa, 

 linea longitudinalis elevata in medio ; appendix trifida, curvata, penicillata. 

 Columna circiter 11 cm. longa, erecta; lobi superiores laciniarum lineares acuti, 

 inferiores oblongi, obtusi. Stigma ellipticum in medio columnae. 



Victoria: Fern-tree Gully, E. E. Pescott and A. N. Burns, 20/11/20; 

 also Ringwood and Belgrave, E. E. Pescott. 



A very slender glabrous species about 10-20 cm. high. Radical leaves not 

 present at the time of flowering, usually 3, ovate or oval, on rather long and 



