202 THE TASMANIAN FLORA. 



17. EEIOOHILTJS. 



Upper periantli-segmeiit short, erect ; lower pair longer, spattulate, and 

 directed forwards ; side pair linear, spreading or erect, as long as the upper one. 

 Labellum erect, and narrow at the base, entire or nearly so, expanded and 

 recurved above, surface glandular-hairy. Column erect, nearly as long as the 

 upper perianth-lobe, narrowly or not at all winged. Anther valvular. Stigma 

 prominent, close below the anther. 



A small genus, confined to Australian distribution. 



E. AUTUMNALis, R. Br. Leaf broadly ovate, ^-1 inch long, rather thick, and 

 sometimes pubescent, solitary, sessile at the base of the stem ; in apparently all 

 Tasmanian plants rudimentary in the sheath at the flowering period, and maturing 

 subsequently. Stem usually .3 or 4 inches high. Flowers 1-3, pink, upper 

 segments about 3 lines long ; the lowest pair about ^ inch, narrow, broadest in 

 the middle, tapering at both ends. Labellum rather longer than the column, but 

 the upper third sharply recurved on itself, the recurved portion much longer 

 than broad, den.sely hairy, but not fimbriated on the margin, entire throughout. 

 Column erect, about 2 lines long. 



Very common in most situations, but principally in wet or dry heaths. It 

 occurs also in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and S.outh Australia. PL. 

 Feb.-Apr. 



18. LTPERANTHUS. 



Upper segment of perianth much exceeding and curved over the column ; 

 the lowei' and side pairs of about the same length, linear, spreading. Labellum 

 cui'ved, narrow at the base, with two lateral lobes about the middle, and a terminal 

 recurved central lobe, thickened in the centre and somewhat papillose. Column 

 slender, curved forwards, without wings. Anther valvular. Stigma peltate, 

 prominent, close below the anther. 



The genus, as accepted by Hentham, contains but two species, both confined to 

 Australian distribution. 



L. NIGRICANS, R. Sr. Leaf solitary, at the base of the stem, cordate, sessile, 

 about 1-1^ inch long. Stem 2-6 inches long, clothed with 2 or 3 rather large 

 fleshy bracts besides the floral ones. Flowers usually 2 or 3, of a fleshy 

 consistency, veined dark red and white, about 1 inch long, nearly sessile, each in 

 a large bract. Upper perianth-segment overarching the column, broadly 

 lanceolate. Labellum coarsely fimbriated beyond the lateral lobes. 



Near George's Bay, George Town, and Rocky Cape. Occasionally found in 

 the south, but rare. It occurs also in New South Wales, Victoria, South 

 Australia, and West Australia, The fleshy nature of the plant causes it to turn 

 very black when dried, a fact responsible for the erroneous colouring of the 

 plate in Hook. " Fl. Tas." Fl. Oct. 



19. BURNETTIA. 



Perianth-segments nearly equal, often partially cohering, never spreading. 

 Labellum erect, curved, broad, entire, sessile, centre thickened, and usually 

 broken into flat plates towards the end. Column erect or curved, broadly winged 

 throughout, but tapering chiefly below. Anther valvular. 



The genus consists of a single species, confined to Victoria and Tasmania. It 

 closely connects Lyperanthus with Caladenia. 



B. CUNEATA, Lindl. Leaf none on the flowering-stem, said to be developed on 

 a separate stem previous to flowei-ing, and to be ovate-lanceolate, acute, j inch 

 long, but doubtful. Stem 2-4 inches high, bearing 2 or 3 relatively large fleshy 

 bracts Flowers usually 2 or 3, brown-red outside or white, the rest of the 

 plant similarly coloured, fleshy, about \ inch long, stalked. Labellum rather 



