336 



another section from P. elatum, with which in other respects 

 it would appear to be morphologically identical. It is 

 understood that Mr. Andrews has withdrawn its claim to 

 specific rank. It would, however, appear to be at least a very 

 interesting variety of elatum. Another important feature 

 on which Bentham relies for his separation of the members 

 of this genus is the attachment or otherwise of the lateral 

 sepals to each other. The writer has already drawn attention 

 to the inconstancy of both these features (Trans. Roy. Soc. 

 S. Austr., xxxiii., 197). P. elatum is perhaps the most 

 constant of all Prasophyllums in regard to the cohesion of 

 these segments, nevertheless in that species they are 

 occasionally to be found free. On the hill-top at Swan View 

 numbers of specimens of Andrew's plant were examined, and 

 in a considerable proportion the sepals were quite free. The 

 same thing has been observed as not uncommon in P. gracile, 

 Rogers, and P. Suttoni, Rogers and Rees. It is exceedingly 

 difficult to discover features sufficiently constant on which to 

 found an absolutely satisfactory system of classification. 



P. Fimbria, Reich, f. 



Western Australia : Albany and . district, . Rogers, 

 September, 1919; Diamond Tree School, near Jarnadup, Miss 

 I. Knox-Peden, December, 1918; Perth, Dr. J. B. Cleland. 

 This is a very handsome species, reaching a height of 105 cm. 

 (3 feet 6 inches). The white labellum, with heliotrope inner 

 plate, at once distinguishes it from P. elatum. 



A Victorian habitat is recorded for this orchid in F. v. 

 Mueller's Second Census. This is not supported by any 

 Victorian representative in any Australian National collection 

 and is probably an error. 



P. macrostachyum, Br. 



The flowers of this common orchid are usually quite green 

 or greenish-yellow. At Lake Chockerup, in the Albany 

 district, in swampy country, a form was found in which the 

 labellum and the petals were a deep purple in colour, giving 

 the plant a very unfamiliar appearance. This form was very 

 prolific and was not associated with others of the common 

 colour. 



P. Mans, Reich, f. 



Western Australia: Albany district, Porongorup, 

 Pinjarra, the Stirling Ranges, Rogers; Lander's Camp (Cape 

 Leeuwin district), Dr. R. Pulleine; York, O. H. Sargent; 

 Perth district. Dr. J. B. Cleland and Mrs. W. E. Cooke; 

 Waroona, G. F. Berthoud. It blooms in September and has 



