Dipodhim.] CXXVII. ORCHIDE^. 1549 



Column erect, semicylindrical, the membranous margin variously sinuate or 

 toothed. Anther lid-like. Pollen-masses 2, deeply 2-lobed (or 4 in pairs), 

 lateral, attached to separate caudicles proceeding from a rather large gland, — 

 Terrestrial herbs, the leafy stems when present simple with distichous leaves. 

 Racemes on long, leafless scapes or long erect axillary peduncles, with sheathing 

 scales imbricate at the base of the scape or peduncle, the upper distant ones 

 passing into small bracts. Flowers rather large, often spotted. 



Besides the two Australian species which appear to be endemic, there are a few from New 

 Caledonia, the Eastern Archipelago, and East India. 



No leaves. Scales not numerous, loosely imbricate at the base of the scapes 1. D. punctatiim. 



Stems with linear-lanceolate leaves. Peduncles axillary 2. D. ensifolhim. 



1. S. punctatum (punctate), R. Br. Prod. 381 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. vi. 301. 

 A leafless plant with thick, fibrous roots and erect stem ' attaining with the 

 racemes 1 to 2ft., the sheathing scales few and loosely imbricate and obtuse at 

 the base, distant higher up. Flowers rather large, more or less red and usually 

 but not always spotted with purple, in a terminal raceme sometimes very short 

 sometimes occupying a third of the stem. Sepals and petals oblong-lanceolate, 6 

 to 8 lines long. Labellum as long or rather longer, the basal pouch or gibbosity 

 very short ; lateral lobes below the middle narrow and erect ; middle lobe twice 

 as long, obovate-oblong ; disk with 2 raised lines very prominent and glabrous at 

 the base, pubescent upwards and ending sometimes in tufts or pubescent scales, 

 the middle lobe with one broad pubescent line or patch. Column half as long as 

 the sepals, the inner face pubescent. Pollen-masses 2, deeply 2-lobed, laterally 

 attached below the subulate ends of the caudicles. — Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. ii. 32, t. 

 127; Bot. Eeg. t. 1980; Eeichb. f. Beitr. 45 ; Dendrobium punctatum, Sm. Exot. 

 Bot. i, 21, t. 12. 



Hab.: Often met with in various localities both north and south. 



Var. Hamiltonianum, D. Hamiltonianum, Bail. Prod, of L. Soc. N.S.W. vi. 140. Habit of 

 the typical form. Flowers often larger, 20 to 30in. each raceme ; rich-yellow spotted or barred 

 with red. Sepals and petals oblong, about 8 lines long, the labellum longer, the lateral lobes 

 erect, middle lobe oblong, pint, with 2 raised lines on the disk. 



Hab.: Islands of Moreton Bay, Somerset, and Stanthorpe. 



Var. album, 3rd. Suppl. Syn. Ql. PI. 73. Flowers a pure white the only disiinction. 



Hab.: Cleveland, W. B. Kefford. 



2. S. ensifolium (sword-shaped leaves), F. v. M. Fragm. v. 42 ; Benth. Fl. 

 Austr. vi. 301. Stems leafy from a few inches to above 1ft. high without the 

 racemes. Leaves distichous, complicate or canaliculate, linear-lanceolate, acute, 

 strongly keeled and usually prominently ribbed on each side, 3 to 6in. long, IJie 

 persistent truncate base usually rather long. Eacemes with the peduncle often 

 above 1ft. long, sometimes appearing at first terminal, and usually only 1 or 2 on 

 the same stem, but really always axillary. Sheathiiig scales small, distant, with 

 a few imbricate ones at the base of the peduncle. Pedicels with the ovary 

 about -^in. long. Sepals and petals pink and spotted, 6 to 8 lines long, the 

 sepals oblong-lanceolate, the petals rather broader and more contracted at the 

 base. Labellum about the length of the sepals, scarcely gibbous at the base but 

 shortly connate with the column as in other species, the lateral lobes placed much 

 below the middle, linear or linear-spathulate, incurved, the middle lobe about 

 twice as long, broadly rhomboidal ; the disk with 2 pubescent lines between the 

 lateral lobes confluent into 1 at the base of the middle lobe, and a dense patch of 

 scaly hairs at the end of it. Column not half the length of the sepals, pubescent 

 in front. Pollen-masses 2-lobed, the 2 caudicles long and slender. 



Hab.: Eoekhampton Bay, Dallachtf. 



Patvt V_ w 



