Thelymitra.] CXXVII. ORCHIDE^. 1 o, 



but like several other species very variable in stature and number of flowers, 

 sometimes slender with 1 or 2 flowers. Sepals p6tals and labellum elliptical- 

 oblong, 9 to 10 lines long in the common variety, smaller in others. Column 

 about 2 lines long, the broad wing extending behind and beyond the anther, 

 shortly adnate to it at the base, and forming a broad hood over it with 2 lateral 

 lobes at the angles shortly linear erect and bearing a dense tuft of while cilia, 

 and 3 rather shorter lobes between them, all truncate and denticulate, and the 

 ■central one with a crest of several rows of dorsal calli. Anther produced into 

 an incurved point much longer than the rostellum. — Sm. Exot. Bot. i. 55, t. 

 29 ; R. Br. Prod. 314 ; Lindl. Gen. and Sp. Orch. 522 ; Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. ii. 

 ■6, t. 103 B ; Reichb. f. Beitr. 7 ; 2'. ividioides, Sieb. and T. juncifolia, Lindl. 

 I.e. ; 'T. Ulacina, F. v. Muell., referred by Lindl. in Linnaa xxvi. 242 to T. 

 ■ eanaliculata ; Fitzg. Austr. Orch. ii., Pt. 3. 



Hab.: Not uncommon but most frequently met with on the ranges. 



2. T. longifolia (leaves long), Forst. CJiar. Oen. 98, t. 49; Benth. Fl. Austr. 

 vi. 319. Stature and foliage varying more even than that of T. ixioides. What 

 we may consider as the typical form is rather tall, with a long narrow leaf and a 

 raceme of several jat'ier large flowers, some northern specimens are tall and 

 -vigorous with broader leaves, the colour varies from blue to lilac or pink. 

 -Column-wing produced behind and over the anther into a broad hood, usually 

 ■conspicuous for its dark colour, the 2 extreme lateral lobes penicillate as in 

 T. ixioides, but bent forward and shorter than the broad centre, which is entire 

 ■emarginate or shortly 2-lobed with the margin entire and smooth. — T. l^orsteri, 

 ;Sw. in K. Akad. Stockh. Handl. 1800, 288, and in Schrad. N. Journ. i. 57 ; 

 Lindl. Gen. and Sp. Orch. 520 ; T. nuda, R. Br. Prod. 314, Lindl. I.e. ; Hook. 

 i. Fl. Tasm. ii. v. t. 108 A ; Reichb. f. Beitr. 8 ; T. paicciflora, R. Br. I.e. Reichb. 

 i. I.e. ; T. arenaria and T. versicolor, Lindl. I.e. 519, 520 ; T. qraminea, Lindl. 

 Sw. Riv. App. 49, Gen. and Sp. Orch. 521 ; Fitzg. Austr. Orch. i'., Pt. 6. 



Hab.: Endeavour Eiver, Banks and Solander; Port Bowen, R. Brown; Archer's station, 

 Moreton Bay, Leichhardt; Rockingham Bay, Dallacluj ; Armidale, Ferrot; also from the 

 Burdelcin Expedition. Generally found on tops of the tropical ranges. 



31. DIURIS, Sm. 

 (From dis, two, ouros, a tail.) 



Dorsal sepal erect, rather broad, closely embracing the column at the base, the 

 Tipper part open ; lateral sepals narrow- linear, almost herbaceous, parallel or 

 sometimes crossed, spreading or deflexed ; petals longer than the dorsal sepal, 

 'Ovate-elliptical or oblong, on slender claws. Labellum usually as long as or 

 rather longer than the dorsal sepal, deeply 3-lobed, the middle lobe much 

 contracted at the base, with 1 or 2 longitudinal raised lines along the narrow 

 part. Column very short, the wings produced into lateral erect lobes, but not 

 continued behind the anther. Anther erect, often acuminate, the 2-valved cells 

 occupying nearly the whole inner surface. Rostellum 2-fid, shorter than the 

 anther. Pollen-masses granular or mealy, without any distinct caudicle. — ■ 

 Terrestrial glabrous herbs, with underground tubers. Leaves narrow, few at or 

 near the base of the stem, with a few sheathing bracts higher up. Flowers 1, 

 2 or several in a terminal raceme, often rather large and conspicuous from the 

 antenna-like green lateral sepals, the rest of the perianth yellow purple or 

 -white, in many species bright yellow with deep purple spots or blotches, the 

 prominent petals often very spreading, whilst the shorter dorsal sepal remains 

 ■close over the column, make it appear as if the petals were outside in 

 aestivations, and they are sometimes so drawn, but in the bud the £estivation 

 is quite normal with the sepals outside. 



The genus is limited to Australia, and cannot be confounded with any other, although the 

 species are very difficult to dis'tinguish from dried specimens which do not show their real 

 colours. — Benth. 



