218 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
me are either epiphytic on trunks or branches of trees, or are 
restricted to rock-masses like those of the Alum Mountain (of 
which Bulladelah is the aboriginal name). The remainder are 
ground-plants. The genus Pterostylis heads my list with 14 
species: Dendrobium comes next with 10—one of them, however, 
being doubtful. The distribution - of local species among the 
various genera may be seen in the table below. 
‘Several of the species show marked variations. I have ob- 
served distinct varieties in the following: Dendrobium Kingia- 
num (2 forms), Dipodium punctatum (3), Corysanthes aconiti- 
flores * (2), Pterostylis curta (2), P. nutans (2), P. pedun- 
culata (2), Hriochilus autumnalis (2), Caladenia carnea (3), 
Glossodia major (2). 
Teratological specimens, showing abnormal growth, have 
been found in the case of Pterostylis Baptistii, P. curta, P. 
nutans and Caladenia coerulea. 
Many orchids are, of course, easily collected, and still more 
easily observed. Even the man to whom wild flowers are merely 
“bush-weeds” is attracted by a good clump of Rock Lilies, or 
a mass of Pencil-Orchids on a swamp oak. But there are many 
which call for diligent and patient search, and when you have 
found them they are sometimes “so near and yet so far’—out 
of reach, unless you have assistance, or some apparatus to help 
in a stiff climb. The smaller Prasophylla are often difficult 
to see. 
The most widely distributed and abundant orchid in the 
Bulladelah district is probably Acianthus fornicatus. It may be 
found in every type of country except bog-land and, perhaps, 
open pastures. On sandy moors, on hard clay flats, on arid 
hills, in rock crevices, in rich forest gullies, and on the very 
edge of dense brushes, it is equally at home, and without any 
apparent variation, except in size. It seems to grow most 
vigorously on the sides of gullies in open forests, where I have» 
seen it up to 12 inches in height. 
A complete list of the orchids I have observed in the dis- 
trict is given below. Some are so familiar that they need no 
comment, but it is interesting, even in the case of common and 
familiar flowers, to notice how some of them vary, according to 
their habitat, and how they are able to adapt themselves to 
climatic and other conditions. As an example, let us take one 
* The specific name “aconitiflores” of Salisbury has priority 
over Brown’s name “bicalcarata,” so that it should be C. aconi- 
tiflores (Salisb.) Druce (@. bicalcarata R.Br.) [Edwin Cheel]. 
