March, 1935. 
The Queensland Naturalist. 
59 
complete account of Queensland Orchids we have up to 
date, the system followed is that of Bentham and Hooker’s 
“Genera Plantarum,” a system followed by many 
botanists. In this the Orchids are divided up into a num- 
ber of tribes and subtribes. Most amateurs who have at- 
tempted to determine their plants by this system have 
found it very difficult of usage, particularly as to the 
placing of their Orchids in the correct tribe, and the fol- 
lowing abbreviated and simplified definitions of the four 
tribes are given herewith. 
Tribe 1. — Epidendreae. — Epiphytic or terrestrial; 
pollinia waxy, 2 to 8 without caudicles. 
Important genera are Oberonia, Liparis, Dendrobium, 
Bulbophyllum, Eria, Spathoglottis, Phaius and Calanthe. 
Tribe 2 — Vandeae. — Epiphytic or terrestrial; pollinia 
2 to 4 with caudicles. 
Important genera are Eulophia, Cymbidium, Geo- 
dorum, Dipodium, Sarcochilus, Cleisostoma and Ornitho- 
chilus. 
Tribe 3 — Neottie ae. — Terrestrial, often tuber-bearing; 
pollinia mealy, with one or two caudicles, with one gland 
or disc. This tribe includes most of the smaller terrestrial 
Orchids native to the open forest, sandy lands and peat 
swamps. 
Important genera are Spiranthes, Thelymitra, Diuris, 
Gryptostylis, Prasophyllum, Microtis, Corysanthes, Ptero- 
stylis, Caleana, Drakaea, Acianthus, Eriochilus, Cyrto- 
stylis, Caladenia, Glossodia, Calochilus, Chiloglottis* 
Pogonia, Gastrodia and Epipogum. 
Tribe 4 — Ophrydeae— Terrestrial ; pollen masses 
mealy, 2 caudicles and 2 discs. 
The only genus is Habenaria. 
In the “Queensland Flora” a fifth tribe is included, 
the Cypripedieae. This tribe includes the well known 
Cypripediums and is represented in Australia by one 
genus, Apostasia found in North Queensland. It has, 
however, several features distinct from other Orchids, and 
by most botanists is now included in a separate family, the 
Apostasiaceae. 
A question often asked me is how do you find out the 
name of a plant? In the absence of complete material, 
that is, say with just a leafy shoot, it is very difficult and 
unless one knows the plant at sight one can only go upon 
general appearance as to the' plant V affinities, and then 
compare the specimens with plants , of that genus and its 
relatives in the large garden collection or in the herbarium, 
