THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 169 
“Radical leaves solitary or none, except a few sheathing bracts,” 
and Mrs. Sulman (Wild Fl. of N.S.W.) describes it as having 
“solitary broad leaves.” Neither of these statements is accurate 
as regards D. irritabilis at Bulahdelah. It has very prominent 
and well-developed radical leaves, from two to four in number, 
but usually three. They are not, however, attached to the flower- 
ing stem. When I first saw them, I took them to be leaves of-a 
Chiloglottis, but as there were generally three, supposed it to be 
one unknown to me. Narly in June, 1923, I found the flowers, 
and investigation proved that these leaves undoubtedly belonged 
to Drakaea. During the flowering stage they are developed im- 
perfectly or not at all: when present, they are attached below 
the surface of the soil to the same tuberous root as the flowering- 
stem. On non-flowering plants they are developed very freely, 
attaining a length of one to three inches. On many flowering- 
stems there are small undeveloped buds along with the fully- 
opened flowers—usually on the lower part of the stem: and once 
or twice I have observed matured fruits among the flowers and 
buds. Apparently therefore the plant has a habit of holding 
buds “in reserve” to develop when conditions are favourable. 
VI. Pterostylis cucullata, R.Br. P. dubia, R.Br.?—In No- 
vember, 1919, during an excursion up Mount Wellington, Tas., 
I collected specimens of a Pterostylis with large flowers which 
grew in wet places at an altitude of about 3,500 ft. I could not 
place it satisfactorily under any species described in Mr. Rod- 
way’ Flora of Tasmania. Subsequently I found the same 
plant, at about 4,000 ft., on Mount Barrow, near Launceston. 
The flowers were withered (early January), but I do not think 
there could be any doubt of the identity of the plants with those 
of Mount Wellington, which I had again collected in November 
and December, 1920. Mr. Rodway seemed of opinion that it was 
a form of P. cucullata. I give the following description from 
the specimens now in my collection. Stem very stout and suc- 
culent, from 23 to 6 inches high. Stem-leaves 3 or 4, very broad 
(4 to 1 inch), lanceolate. Upper lip 1 to 14in. long, almost 
mucronate, the point short. Outline of the lower lip a rounded 
curve, never suddenly “bulging” as in P. cucullata; the lobes not 
(or barely) extending beyond the dorsal sepal; whole flower 
erect and only slightly curved in the upper lip; fruit rather 
lerge in proportion to the plant. In January, 1922, I collected 
a large number of specimens of P. cucullata from soft, sheltered 
bogs among the foot-hills of Mount Barrow, and I had the op- 
portunity of comparing these with many plants of the same 
species obtained about the same time among the western high- 
lands of Tasmania by Mrs. George Perrin, of Launceston. The. 
