1560 CXXVII. OECHIDEiE. [Spirantkes. 



linear or narrow-lanceolate, varying in length from ]^ to 4in. as well as in 

 breadth, the upper ones reduced to sheathing scales. Spike spiral, very dense 

 or rather loose. Flowers sessile, generally pink with a white labellum ; bracts 

 usually about as long as the ovary, the rhachis ovary and sometimes the 

 perianths pubescent. Sepals and petals varying from IJ to 2 lines in length, 

 the lips spreading, the lateral sepals obscurely dilated near the base but not 

 saccate. Labellum as long as the sepals, the broad base quite sessile or some- 

 times appearing raised on a very short claw with a tubercle on each side, 

 concave, often slightly contracted above the column, then expanded into a 

 short broad undulate - crisped or almost fringed lamina. Anther scarcely 

 acuminate but much longer than the rostellum. — Wight; Ic. t. 1721 ; Hook, 

 f. Fl. Tasm. ii. 15 ; Reichb. Ic. Fl. Germ. t. 476 ; Neottia amtralis, E. Br. 

 Prod. 319; Fitzg. Austr. Orch. i. Pt. 2. 

 Hab.: Very common amongst grass, especially in southern localities. 



27. LISTERA, R. Br. 



(After Dr. Martin Lister.) 



Sepals and petals subequal, free, spreading or reflexed. Labellum pendulous 

 from the base of the column, usually longer than the sepals, narrow, entire or 

 2-fid. Column usually stout ; rostellum terminal. Anther inclined forward, 

 cells 2 contiguous ; pollen-masses 2, usually 2-partite, pendulous from the gland 

 of the rostellum. Terrestrial erect 2-leaved herbs, with fibrous roots from a 

 short rootstock. Leaves broad subopposite. Flowers rather small racemose. 



Species few, found in the mountains of Europe, Asia and America. 



1. Zi> amplexicaulis (leaves amplexicaul) Bail. Plant terrestrial or 

 growing in masses of decayed epiphytes on the stems of trees. Stems 4 to 6in. 

 high, arising from globose or oblong tubers of from J to fin. diameter, with a 

 small apiculate sheathing scale-like leaf at the immediate base, from which the 

 stem is naked for about 2in., where there is a broad, deeply, palmately variously 

 lobed sessile bract or leaf about lin. in diameter, which surrounds the stem with 

 its lobed lamina in an amplexicaul manner ; sometimes there is a second smaller 

 but similar leaf a little higher up the stem. The rest of the stem is occupied by 

 a spike-like raceme of small greenish-white flowers, each subtended by a cordate- 

 acuminate bract, pedicels with ovary about 3 or 4 lines long. Sepals and petals 

 very narrow-linear almost filiform, about 2 lines long. ' Labellum somewhat 

 reflexed, shorter than the petals, euneate oblong, slightly cordate at the base, the 

 end sharply 3-toothed or lobed, the central tooth longer than the others, disk with 

 two thick glabrous ridges. Column very narrow, incurved, nearly as long as the 

 labellum. Anther small, of a rather bright reddish brown. — Microstrjlis 

 ample.vkaidis, Bail. Bot. Bull. 3. 



Hab.: On the ground and in decayed epiphytes. Scrubs of Eudlo Creek, Field Naturalists, 

 March, 1891. 



I have only seen the few specimens from which the above description was given but have 

 removed it from MicrostyUs because I think when better specimens are available that the plant 

 ■will likely prove a Listera, as in general appearance it approaches that genus. 



28. GOODYERA, E. Br. 



(After John Goodyer.) 



Dorsal sepal and petals erect connivent and often connate ; lateral sepals as 

 long, spreading. Labellum sessile, embracing the column and sometimes adnata 

 to it at the base, concave or almost saccate, undivided, often fringed or hairy 

 inside at the base but without appendages. Column short, the stigma very 

 concave or pouch-like, and connected with the anthers by lateral membranes, 

 forming a second pouch between the rostellum and the anther, the rostelluni 



