Caliwia.] CXXVII. ORCHIDE^. 1579 



• equal, 4 to 5 lines long, the dorsal one often dilated above the middle and 

 attached as well as the petals immediately above the ovary, the lateral sepals 

 however attached to the extremity of the basal projection of the column on each 

 side of the stipes of the labellum, which is linear and incurved. Lamina of the 

 labellum peltate and convex, but narrower than in C. major, and tuberculate on 

 the surface, the upper lobe obtuse or shortly 2-lobed, the lower lobe or appendage 

 very short. Column about as long as the sepals, the broad wing adnate also to 

 the basal projection, which is at least half as long as the column itself and nearly 

 ■erect whilst the column is more spreading, the whole forming a broad sac or 

 pouch. — Lindl. Gen. and Sp. Orch, 429 ; Reichb. f. Beitr. 44 ; Fitz. Austr. Orch. 

 i., Pt. 6. 



Hab.: Between Stanthoipe and the border of N.S.W. 



38. DRAKiEA, Lindl. 



(After Miss Drake, botanical artist for the "Botanical Register.") 



(Spioulsea, Lindl. ; Arthrochilus, F, v. M.) 



Sepals and petals linear, the dorsal sepal erect, the lateral sepals and petals 



■spreading or reflexed. Labellum articulate at the base of the column or at the 



'Cnd of its basal projection and moveable (irritable), with a linear claw ; the lamina 



narrow, peltate, convex, shorter below than above its insertion. Column 



-elongated, narrow, wingless except 1 or 2 pairs of narrow auricles variously 



placed. Anther erect, not mueronate, the 2 cells distinct and nearly equally 



:2-valved. Pollen-masses granular. Stigma large, orbicular, sometimes 



mueronate. — Terrestrial glabrous herbs, with small underground tubers. Leaf 



solitary at or near the base of the stem, usually broad, or none at the time of 



flowering. Scapes with 1 to 3 empty sheathing bracts. Flowers solitary or 



several in a raceme, the subtending bracts small and narrow. Labellum almost 



hammer-shaped and very irritable. Ovary straight or recurved, more or less 



teversing the .flower. 



The genus is limited to Australia, and is nearly allied to Caleana. 



1. I>. irritabilis (irritable), Reichh. Beitr. 68 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. vi. 368. 

 Stems 6in. to nearly 1ft. high, leaves several in a rosette, lanceolate 2 to 3in. 

 long midrib prominent sometimes leafless at the time of flowering except 1, 2 or 

 3 distant empty bracts sheathing at the base but sometimes spreading and almost 

 leaf-like at the apex. Flowers green or whitish, spotted tinged with red, 3 to 8 

 on pedicels of 2 to 3 lines within small narrow bracts. Sepals and petals narrow- 

 linear, slightly dilated above the middle, the dorsal sepal incurved, about 4 lines 

 long, the lateral sepals and petals shorter, very spreading or reflexed, the former 

 -dilated at the base and adnate to the basal projection of the column. Labellum 

 articulate at the end of the basal projection, the linear claw about 1 line long 

 above the articulation, the lamina hammer-shaped and peltately attached, ciliate 

 with long hairs on the upper surface, the upper lobe emarginate or terminating 

 in a short smooth point, the lower lobe or appendage very obtuse and less hairy. 

 ^Column incurved, with 2 narrow-linear acuminate auricles just under the stigma 

 and 2 short points behind it. — Arthrochilus irritabilis, F. v. M. Fragm. i. 43. 



Hab.: Brisbane Biver, Moreton Bay, W. Hill, C. Prentice; Cave Creek, W. E. Armit, 

 (F, V. M.) ; Eockingham Bay, Dallachy. 



39. ACIANTHUS, R. Br. 



(Needle-flowers, referring to the pointed perianth.) 



Dorsal sepal erect or incurved over the column, concave, not very broad, and 

 -often produced into a fine point ; lateral sepals narrow, erect or spreading ; 

 petals much shorter. Labellum about as long as the petals, sessile or nearly so, 



