325 



crenulated margins and an inner plate with a wide orbicular 

 base; and further by the long strap-like caudicle in the latter 

 species. 



P. ftavum, Br., has a characteristic leaf -lamina which 

 rarely exceeds an inch (2'5 cm.) in length; the labellum is 

 sessile and its inner plate commences about the middle of the 

 lamina and not at the base, as in the case of the new species. 



It should be placed next to P. regium in the writer's 

 table of tall Prasophylla in Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Austr., 

 xlii., 29. 



Prasophyllum ellipticum, n. sp. 



A tall robust plant reaching 104 cm. in height (in 

 specimen under examination). Spike rather crowded with 

 numerous pale green flowers, about 28 cm. long. Lear-lamina 

 not reaching to top of spike, 65 cm. long. Flowers sessile, 

 on a slender ovary about 12 mm. long. Ovary subtended by 

 an acute bract about 7 to 8 mm. long. All segments (except 

 labellam) rather narrow. Lateral sepals connate except at 

 the base and extreme tips, about 11 mm. long, conjoined width 

 about 6 mm. ; dorsal sepal narrow ovate-lanceolate, 7-nerved, 

 longer than lateral sepals, about 12'5 mm. long and 4 mm. 

 wide, generally erect but becoming reflexed in older flowers, 

 slightly incurved. Lateral petals rather bluntly falcate or 

 falco-lanceolate, erect, about 9'5 mm. long, 2'5 mm. wide, 

 5 -7-nerved. 



Labellum on a very short claw, elliptical, about 11 mm. 

 long and 525 mm. wide, erect in its basal two-thirds, gradually 

 recurved towards the tip; outer membranous margin white, 

 wide and voluminous, much crisped; inner plate also 

 membranous, oval, with a rather narrow blunt short apical 

 projection commencing about the bend but not nearly reaching 

 the tip, attached to outer plate at base and apical projection, 

 margin otherwise free, 6"5 mm. long (including apex) and 

 about 4"5 mm. wide. 



Lateral appendages of column similar to those in 

 P. elatum, bluntly falcate membranous, longer than the 

 rostellum, reaching 5*5 mm. above base of column, a basal 

 thickening in the posterior border constituting a basal lobe. 

 Bostellum reaching rather less than 5 mm. above the base 

 of column, apex bij&d to receive the disc. Caudicle rather 

 long and stout, attached to the rostellum by a large sticky 

 ovate gland or disc. Anther shorter than rostellum, apiculate. 

 Lateral Index (ratio of petal to lateral sepal) 86. 



Hah. — Near Jarnadup, W.A., Miss I. Knox-Peden, 

 21/12/18. 



This Prasophyllum has in common with the preceding 

 member of the genus (Prasophyllum lanceolatum) and also 



