205 



tham's description where the petals are stated to be longer 

 than the lateral sepals. The reverse is the case, and the 

 error should be corrected. Fitzgerald lays much diagnostic 

 stress upon the strap-shaped stigmatic surface. This sur- 

 face is oval in the original type, and it is ovate or oval 

 in some hundreds of fresh specimens which I have examined 

 in this State. 



A minute leafless plant, usually from 2 to 5 in. high; 

 fibrous sheath at the base ; single globular tuber, with the 

 remains of previous year's bulb adhering to it ; stem glab- 

 rous, with one small sheathing bract a little below the spike. 



Spike from i to 1 in. long, consisting of from 7 to 20 

 minute dark-purple (rarely green) flowers, each flower being 

 shortly stalked, deflexed, and subtended by a tiny clasping 

 bract. Flowers expand on the spike uniformly from below 

 upwards. 



Lateral sepals free, about 1^ lines, green, cylindrico- 

 lanceolate, widely spreading, concave on labellar side, not 

 particularly gibbous at base. Dorsal sepal rather broadly 

 hooded, with short recurved apical point, greenish or pur- 

 plish, somewhat shorter than lateral sepals, about 1^ lines, 

 and about same length as labellum. 



Lateral petals slightly shorter than dorsal sepal, about 

 1 line, and much shorter than lateral sepals, triangular- 

 lanceolate, purplish. 



Lateral index about 64. 



Labellum dark-purple and very glandular, about same 

 length as dorsal sepal (1| lines), somewhat oblong in shape 

 though gradually widening from its proximal to its distal 

 end, where it abruptly narrows to a short recurved apex; 

 attached to extended base of column by a semi-circular mov- 

 able claw ; margins entire in posterior two-thirds, minutely 

 toothed, or crenulated in anterior third ; callous portion ob- 

 long, slightly raised above the membranous and occupying 

 rather more than half the upper surface, reaching nearly 

 to apex and slightly channelled. 



Lateral appendages of column purplish, almost as long 

 as the petals, chelate, the anterior claw being generally much 

 longer than the posterior, which varies much in length, being 

 occasionally nearly as long as anterior, but sometimes blunt, 

 notched, or rudimentary ; reaching to level of anther-point 

 and not incurved as in P. des-pectans . 



Anther incurved, mucronate, the point at first soft and 

 rather long, and covering disc of caudicle, but later harden- 

 ing and rising to a more vertical position. Portion of column 

 below anther considerably longer than anther itself. 



