Ptei-ostylis.] CXXVII. OBCHIDB^. 1573 



or almost hood-shaped upper lip or galea ; lateral sepals more or lees united in 

 an erect or recurved 2-lobed lower lip, adnate at the base to the basal projection 

 of the column, the lobes often terminating in long points. Labellum on a short 

 claw at the end of the basal projection of the column, moveable (irritable), the 

 lamina linear or oblong, channelled flat or convex, produced below its insertion 

 ■on the claw into an appendage either very short and obtuse or longer linear 

 incurved and forked or peniciliate at the end with a tuft or 3 or more setje or 

 cilia. Column elongated within the galea and curved with it, with a pair of 

 hatchet-shaped or quadrangular wings one on each side of the rostellum and 

 sometimes narrowly winged lower down, the base produced into a short horizontal 

 projection. Stigma oblong on the face of the column about the middle of its 

 length below the wings. Anther erect, the cells distinct, 2-valved. Pollen- 

 masses granular. — Terrestrial herbs, with small underground tubers. Eadieal 

 Jeaves ovate, in a tuft at the base of the flowering stem or in a separate tuft or at 

 ■& different time of year, the stem-leaves either developed and linear or lanceolate, 

 ■or reduced to scarious sheathing scales. Flowers usually green often tinged or 

 streaked with red or brown, large and solitary, or smaller and several in a raceme 

 on short pedicels. The bend of the petals partaking always of that of the dorsal 

 sepal, it has been thought useless to describe them separately for each species, 

 they are comprised with the dorsal sepal under the name of galea. 



The genus is chiefly Australian. 



Sect. I. Antennsea. — Lower lip erect, the lobes or their points enibracing the galea. 



Sertes 1. Grandiflorae. — Flowers large (usually above %in. and never under JifiJ, solitary 

 (oj- abnormally and very rarely 2). Labellum appendage linear, peniciliate or ivith 2 or 3 

 bristle-like lobes at the end (the cilia very rarely and abnormally deficient.) 



-Eadieal leaves rosulate at the base of the flowering stems. No stem- 

 leaves except sheathing scales. 



labellum bifid at the end. 



Labellum lobes narrow. Flowers above lin. long \. P. ophioglossa. 



Labellum lobes short and broad. Flowers under lin. long .... 2. P. concinna. 

 •Labellum entire at the end. 



Flowers lin. long or more. Lobes of the lower lip lanceolate with an 

 acute sinus between them. 

 Flowers erect, curved only at or above the middle. 

 Labellum very obtuse. Galea slightly curved, the point oblique 3. P. curta. 

 Labellum acuminate. Galea much curved at the middle. The 



point horizontal 4. P. acuminata. 



Flowers much curved below the middle so as to appear nodding, 

 the point reflexed 5. P, nutans. 



Xeaves crowded at the base of the flowering-stem, passing gradually into 

 stem-leaves or scales. 



Lower leaves reduced to scarious scales which pass Into linear or 

 lanceolate scales or leaves, the largest either subtending the pedicel 

 Or next to it. 



Points of the sepals straight. 



Labellum ending in a filiform point clavate at the end. Lower 



lip truncate between the lobes 6. P. grandifiora. 



Xabellum tapering above the middle, acute or with a slender 

 point. Lower lip notched or with an acute sinus between the 

 the lobes. 

 Leaves usually lanceolate. Flower above lin. long . .•. . . I.P.refiexa. 

 Labellum very obtuse. Flower under lin. long. Lower lip truncate 

 between the lobes 8. P. obtiisa. 



Sebies 2. "PATviAovae.— Flowers 2 or more very rarely only 1. Labellum appendage 

 >short with 2 or 3 setce. Stems leafless at the time of flowering, except empty sheathing bracts. 



Sepals acute or very shortly pointed. Labellumappendage short and 



narrow, with 2 or 3 sette 9. p. parviflora. 



