1570 CXXVII. OECHIDE^. [PraMp7,*jllum^ 



long in the typical form, but varying from 2^ to 4 lines; lateral sepals nearly as 

 long, narrow, free or very shortly connate at the base ; petals rather shorter 

 and linear. Labellum nearly, as long as the sepals, narrower than in P. patens, 

 the erect part very concave, but neither gibbous at the base nor clawed, the 

 spreading end very narrow lanceolate ; the inner plate not distinct at the base,, 

 showing slightly raised margins towards the end of the erect part and thenca- 

 continued to near the end of the lamina in a thick often papillose centre, 

 leaving a very narrow plain margin or occupying the whole breadth ; the 

 breadth however of the erect part and its contraction abrupt or gradual into the 

 narrow lamina very variable. Lateral appendages of the column obliquely 

 ovate-oblong, entire or irregularly 2-dentate, the outer margin often dilated at 

 the base. Anther usually as long as the rostellum, obtuse or shortly and 

 obtusely aeeuminate. — Lindl. Gen. and Sp. Orch. 516 ; Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. ii. 

 12, t. 112 ; Eeichb. f. Beitr. 18 ; P. aljnnwn, R. Br. Prod. 318, Lindl. I.e. 515 ;: 

 Hook. f. I.e. ii. 12, t. 112 ; Eeichb. f. Beitr. 19 ; P. affine and P. rostrattim,. 

 Lindl. I.e. 516. • ' • 



Hab.: Southern looalittes. 



6. P. nigricans (blackish), JR. By. Prod. 319 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. vi. 343. 

 Stem very slender, under 6in. high, with a single leaf or rather leafy sheathing- 

 bract very near the spike, ^ to fin. long, the very short point or lamina erect. 

 Flowers very small, in a spike of ^ to lin., usually dense, and drying of a dark- 

 purple or almost black. Ovary ovoid-globular, very oblique at the top. Sepals 

 broader than in the following species, with minlite points usually tipped with a 

 small gland, the dorsal sepal about 1 line long, broadly hood-shaped, the lateral 

 ones broadly lanceolate, H to If lines long, often greener than the rest of the 

 flower, their broad base either united under or adhering to the basal projection of 

 the column forming a basal, gibbosity but otherwise free ; petals about 2 lines- 

 long, triangular-lanceolate, acute. Labellum articulate at the end of the claw- 

 like basal projection of the column ovate or ovate-oblong, about 1 line long, 

 almost acute, slightly contracted at the base ; the inner plate thick, occupying 

 about f of the breadth and extending to the end. Lateral appendages of 

 the column almost as long as the petals, acutely bifid at the end. Eostellum 

 rather long. Anther shorter, with a very short fine inflexed point difficult to 

 see and sometimes wanting. — Lindl. Gen. and Sp. Orch. 518 ; Eeichb. f. Beitr. 

 19 ; Fitzg. Austr. Orch. i., Pt, 5. 



Hab.: Southern localities. 



7. P. rufum (reddish), R. Br. Prod. 819 ; Betith. Fl. Austr. vi. 344. Stem' 

 slender, 6 to Sin. high, the leaf reduced to a sheathing bract near the spike ^ to- 

 Jin. long, the lamina short erect and subulate. Flowers the smallest in the 

 genus, in a spike of \ to fin. Ovary oblong. Sepals tipped with a small point- 

 but without the gland of P. nigricans, the dorsal sepal ovate, concave, f line long, 

 the lateral ones lanceolate, quite free, 1 line long ; petals lanceolate, the length 

 of the dorsal sepal. Labellum articulate on a linear erect claw or claw-like- 

 projection of the column, narrow-lanceolate or rarely broader, recurved, not 

 eiliate ; the inner plate with raised margins occupying the greater part of 

 its breadth. Column very short below the anther, the lateral appendages 

 about J line long, 2-dentate or 2-fid. Anther mucronate, rather long. Stigma 

 much shorter, with a minute rostellum. — Lindl. Gen. and Sp. Orch. 513;; 

 Eeichb. f. Beitr. 20 ; P. nudum. Hook. f. Fl. N. Mel. i. 242, Fl. Tasm "ii 14'' 

 t. 118 (partly) ; Fitzg. Austr. Orch. ii., Pt. 4. " ", '' 



Hab.: Moreton to Eookiugham Ba 



