June, 1939 The Queensland Naturalist 
41 
utter dependence on their fungal partner, unless, of course, 
it be claimed that these orchids are able to utilise organic 
matter in the soil through their own unaided efforts. 
There is no experimental support for the latter view, and 
with our present evidence it is more reasonable to regard 
them as plants which show extreme specialisation in the 
exploitation of the mycorrhizal habit. 
In the darkness of the earth there can be no photo- 
synthesis. All organic* food material is derived directly 
or indirectly from the world of light, from the green 
organs of the earth’s surface. Below that flourish only 
the non-green roots and the teeming host of life forms 
ultimately dependent on the green plants. A partnership 
with one or more of these exploiters of the photosynthetic 
labours of the sub-aerial plant population makes it 
possible for a flowering plant to become independent of 
light. We have such leafless orchids as Oaleola wiiich 
can grow in hollow logs. It is not too wild a flight of the 
imagination to suppose that there may be quite a number 
of subterranean flowering plants, especially in view of the 
fact that here in Australia two have already been dis- 
covered both in recent years. They are both orchids — 
Rhizanthella from Western Australia, and Cryptanthemis 
from New South Wales. Difficulties in the matter of 
pollination and seed dispersal militate against the success 
of exploitation of the subterranean habit, and the fact 
that there are such plants is an indication of the wonder- 
ful adaptability of vegetable life. 
EASTER EXCURSION, 1939, TO UPPER ALBERT 
RIVER AND NATIONAL PARK. 
GENERAL ACCOUNT. 
The Easter excursion was held this year to the same 
spot as that visited in 1936, on the Upper Albert River, 
on Edgar Stephens and Sons’ property adjoining the 
Lamington National Park and about 64 miles from 
Brisbane. 
The attendance was about 43 adults and 11 juveniles. 
The majority of the party arrived at the camp on the 
Thursday evening. Friday was somewhat showery, and 
only short excursions and walks were favoured. Satur- 
day broke finer, and a considerable party entered the 
park, which is here dense ‘ 4 scrub” or rain forest, but 
owing to a. late start and heavy rain following, the main 
objective was not achieved and members returned at 
