1542 CXXVII. ORCHIDE^. 



9. PHREATIA, Lindl. 

 (Plexaure, Bndl. 

 Sepals nearly equal, erect or connivent, the lateral ones dilated, at the base and 

 adnate to the basal projection of the column, forming a short pouch. Petals 

 usually smaller than the sepals. Labellum articulate on the basal projection of 

 the column, contracted and concave at the base, the lamina spreading and entire. 

 Column very short, shortly produced at the base, the membranous margin qf, the. 

 apex entire. Anther lid-like, 2-celled. Pollen-masses 8, waxy, slightly cohering 

 by a, viscid substance. — Epiphytical herbs, with short leafy stems sometimes, 

 thickened into pseudo-bulbs. Leaves flat or canaliculate, distichous, their-, 

 persistent bases loosely imbricate. Flowers usually minute, on exceedingly short 

 pedicels, in axillary racemes. 



The genus is spread over the Indian AreWpelago and the South Sea Islands. The only 

 Australian species is also found in Norfolk Island, , , . 



1. P. limenophylax, BeUhh. f. in BonplamUa 1857, 5 4 [partly); 

 Bent'i. Fl. Amtr. vi. 290. A dwarf plant, the very short stem covered 

 by the persistent bases of the leaves. Leaves linear, thick, and semi-terete^ 

 channelled on the upper side, 1 to 2in. long, the dilated base 3 or 4 lines broad. 

 Flowers very minute, yellow, rather crowded and almost sessile, in axillary 

 racemes about as long as the leaves. Sepals about J line long, rather' broad, acute,, 

 the petals rather smaller and narrower. Labellum nearly as long as the sepals,, 

 very concave at the base, the lamina spreading, ovate-rhomboidal, entire, th& 

 disk with a longitudinal raised line not extending on the lamina. Pollen-masses 

 8, fusiform, minute. Capsule almost sessile or very shortly pedicellate, ovoid- 

 oblong, about 1 line long. — Plexaure Umenophylu.v, Endl. Prod. Fl. Nor£. 30 ; 

 Obero7iia crasshisculOf F.Y. M. Herb.- ; l^ria limenopln/la.r, Bieichb. f. Xen. Orch. 

 ii. 97, t. 130. 



Hab.: On the stems of trees, Eockingham Bay, Dallachy. 



The species is also in Norfolk Island. . T 



10. SPATHOGLOTTIS, Blume. 



(Spathe tongue-shaped). 



Sepals and .petals nearly equal, free, spreading. Labellum articulate at tha 

 base of the column, concave or saccate at the base, deeply 3-lobed, the middle- 

 lobe contracted at the base and bearing prominent tubercles or calli. Column 

 erect, free, more or less dilated or 2- winged upwards. Anthers terminal, lid-like, 

 2-celled. Pollen-masses 8, of winch 4 usually smaller, waxy, with very shori 

 seperate caudicles without any common gland. — Terrestrial herbs with sub- 

 terraneous tuberous rhizomes. Leaves usually long, plicate and strongly rUjbed. 

 Eacemes on erect scapes, leafless except sheathing scales.' Bracts usually "Kither 

 large. 



The genus is dispersed over tropical Asia. 



Loaves 2 to 3ft. long and often more than IJin. broad. Labellum bearing 



3 large calli .... 1. S. Paulinir. 



Leaves seldom exceeding 2ft. long and about 9 lines broad. Labellum 



bearing 2 large calli . .; ' . . . ' 2. .S. Soulteriana-. 



1. S. Paulinae (after Miss Pauline Richmond), F. r. If. Fraym. vi. 95 ; 

 Bentli. Fl. Axistr. vi. 804. Pseudo-bulbs rather small; Leaves lanceolate,, 

 acuminate, 2 to 8ft. long, tapering into a long petiole, plicate and strongly 

 ribbed. Scapes attaining 3 or 4ft. bearing an elongating raceme of purplish 

 flowers. Bracts lanceolate, about fin. long ;- pedicels about lin. Sepals < and 

 petals about 5 lines long. Labellum about as long, very short and concave- 

 below the lobes, the lateral lobes linear-oblong, slightly spathulate, and incurved,. 



