GLOSSARY. ' 159 



one of the principal attractions to visitors. In Adelaide 

 also there are some very fine Orange groves. 



Orchid. — (Natural Order, OrchideyE.) Pp. 17, 44, 

 205, 206. See also chapter 'Australian Vegetation,' p. 89. 

 — Orchids are herbaceous plants, perennial in nature, some- 

 times growing in the earth, at other times aerial in their 

 habit, attaching themselves to rocks and trees. Their 

 flowers are of various shapes, and often emit an ex- 

 ceedingly attractive perfume. The peculiar construction 

 of Orchids is worthy of the student's close attention, 

 and should be sought for in the best available works on the 

 subject, assisted by the numerous beautiful specimens to 

 be obtained in Australia. Some of the tribe are insect- 

 catchers. Orchids are well represented in Australia — in 

 the temperate localities by terrestrial or ground varieties, 

 and in the warmer regions by both terrestrial and epiphytal 

 species, principally the latter. In Victoria there are at 

 least between sixty and seventy species, and in South 

 Australia almost as many, none of which are, however, epi- 

 phytal. In most parts of Queensland and New South Wales, 

 however, both epiphytal as well as terrestrial kinds occur. 1 



Osier. — See 'Salix.' 



Pseony. — P^EONIA. (Natural Order, Ranunculace^e.) 

 P. 53. — A family of handsome herbaceous plants, produc- 

 ing large flowers, mostly white, red, or purple. There are 

 some beautiful double varieties. Pceonia officinalis is the 



1 The student of Australian Orchids should consult the magnificent 

 illustrated work of R. D. Fitzgerald, Esq., F.L.S., of Sydney, N.S.W., 

 a gentleman who has devoted many years to the study of the subject. 



