116 
The Queensland Naturalist May 1945 
house; but in 1942 it threw up a new pseudobulb rather 
more than 12 cm. high; and in 1943 another was produced, 
17 cm. high. About June of the present year 
(1944) it became evident that the 1942 stem 
was going to develop a raceme between the leaves ; 
and in the first week of September two flowers 
opened. Examination soon proved that the plant 
could not be included in any species hitherto described. 
Its nearest affinity is undoubtedly I). Adae F. M. Bailey ; 
but the glabrous mid-lobe of the labellum entirely lacks 
the dense pubescence of that of Bailey’s flower, which in its 
turn lacks the curious fold in which the laminal plate of 
the labellum of the new species abruptly terminates. The 
most singular feature of T). ancorarium is that from which 
its name — “pertaining to an anchor” — is derived; an 
anchor-shaped design clearly picked out in dark dots at 
the base of the column-foot. It is practically identical in 
both flowers. As I was anxious to preserve both for the 
type specimen, it was not possible to make any experi- 
mental observations as to the nature and function of this 
strange marking; it is probably glandular in character, 
but further material will be required for investigation. 
It seems probable that D. ancorarium has been con- 
fused with D. Adae F. M. Bailey. Since the above descrip- 
tion was prepared I have received a flower from Mr. T. E. 
Hunt, of Ipswich, supposed to be D. Adae , but it is 
undoubtedly 7). ancorarium. Outstanding points of dis- 
tinction, which I think fully warrant specific separation, 
are : — 
D. Adae 
Leaves up to 10 cm. long 
rather narrowly lanceolate. 
Old stems very faintly ribbed. 
Flowers white or pale cream. 
Mid-lobe of labellum densely 
white-pubescent. 
Column-foot devoid of mark- 
ings. 
D. Ancorarium 
Leaves up to 7 cm. long, broad- 
ly lanceolate. 
Old stems strongly ribbed. 
Flowers green and brown out- 
side, yellowish-green inside, 
labellum white. 
Mid-lobe of labellum glabrous. 
Column-foot with an anchor- 
shaped marking at the base. 
Flowers withered before those 
of D. Adae are opened. 
I may add here that the “anchor” on the column-foot 
of T>. ancorarium appears to be evanescent. It has prac- 
tically disappeared from my dried flowers; and in Mr. 
Hunt’s flower (sent in formalin) only a vague outline 
could be detected. 
