1 Y * 9 21 • J 
THE ORCHID REVIEW . 
AUSTRALIAN ORCHIDS 
71 PAPER entitled “A further contribution to Australian Orchidology,” 
Jl was read by Dr. R. S, Rogers before the Royal Society of South 
Australia, Oct. 14th, 1920 (Trns. xliv., p. 322). The new species described 
are Drakaea Jeanensis, figured on plate 13, and which, it is stated, should be 
placed in the section where the labellum is articulated at the end of a basal 
projection of the column and where the flower is solitary. Prasophyllum 
lanceolatum is named in reference to the lanceolate shape of the segments 
of the perianth and. labellum. P. ellipticum is a tall robust plant producing 
a spike rather crowded with numerous pale green flowers. Western 
Australia, states Dr. Rogers, must be regarded as the home of the giant 
Prasophyllums, which are evidently more numerous than was formerly 
supposed. Some of them reach extraordinary heights when compared with 
the diminutive members of the genus, which do not exceed two or three 
inches. Quite recently the author saw on the Upper Kalgan River, in 
Western Australia, a specimen of P. elatum which reached the height above 
ground of 5ft. 4£in. (about 161 cm.), with a stem at least an inch in diameter. 
It was absolutely erect, and, with other plants of the same species, 
•constituted an imposing feature of the landscape. 
Microtis.truncata is described as a plant of slender habit, with a spike 
bearing about 40 distinct flowers. Caladenia iridescens, also figured on 
plate 13, has the stem reddish-purple, and the flowers usually solitary and 
of a dusky-red colour mingled with iridescent golden tints. Its unusual and 
beautiful colouring gives it at first sight a very distinctive appearance, but a 
careful analysis shows that it has close morphological affinities with C. 
-congesta and C. testacea. Caladenia cordiformis, which is not uncommon 
in Victoria, is described as a fairly robust plant, with a stem very hairy and 
the flowers singly. It approaches most closely to C. ovata, but differs very 
materially as to the calli, and blooms in September and October. 
Boring the spring of 1919 Dr. Rogers.paid a botanical visit to Western 
Australia, chiefly with the object of recovering some of R. D. Fitzgerald’s 
species, very few of which were represented in any of the national collections. 
Many of the observations and records that resulted.from the visit are also 
published. Of Caleana nigrita, Drummond has stated: “ This plant is 
rare, and where it grows it is not easily found, its whole appearance being 
that of charcoal, among which it usually springs up.” The specimens 
"discovered by Dr. Rogers at Ravenswood did not resemble charcoal, neither 
-did they grow on burnt ground. 
A pure-white specimen of Lyperanthus nigricans was found at Mount 
Barker, Western Australia. There were several flowers in the raceme 
"without the suggestion of another colour. It was placed between the 
