88 NATIVE FLOWERS OF VICTORIA. 
punctata. This flower has the two tails very long, 
and is of a most beautiful heliotrope shade of colour. 
It is not very common, and its near relation Diuris 
alba, which is equally beautiful, is rare. This has 
the long double tails, but is white and sometimes 
shaded with very pale heliotrope, and with a few dark 
spots inside the flower. 
The large blue orchid which is found over the 
whole of the State in springtime, is Glossodia major. 
This flower is often foimd in a white form in the 
mountain districts. 
Two other species, mueh less common and worthy 
of notice, are Dipodium punetatum and Gastrodia 
sesamodes. The former is a leafless plant, with a 
stem often eighteen inches high, with many red, white 
or pink flowers, spotted inside with brownish purple. 
The latter is also a leafless species, with brown stems 
fairly tall, and with peculiar um-shaped flowers, 
small, and white or brownish white in colour. Many 
of our orchids are flgured and described in Dr. Ro- 
gers’ charming little book on the orchids of South 
Australia. 
Only a real orchid enthusiast should attempt to 
cultivate these orehids, as, except to an experienced 
hand, they are difficult to keep alive for any time. 
The chief essentials, however, are to grow them in 
their particular natural soil, to grow them in shade or 
sunshine, according as they grow naturally, and to 
withhold water when the tubers or bulbs are resting 
from growth. 
