Pierostylis.] ORCHIDACEAE. 349 
on each side of the rostellum with a quadrangular cr hatchet-shaped 
membranous wing, the base produced into a horizontal projection. Stigma 
on the face of the column below the wings, oblong. Anther terminal, erect, 
2-celled ; pollinia 4, granular, free. 
About 50 species are known. Of the 13 found in New Zealand, 2 are common 
Australian plants, the others are endemic. The remainder of the genus is Australian, 
with the exception of 2 species in New Caledonia. The mode of fertilization is most 
curious, and is well worth an attentive study. The upper sepal and petals connive, 
and form a hood, at the back of which the column is situated. The irritable lip hangs 
out of the entrance to the flower, and forms a convenient landing-place for insects. 
When touched by an insect it springs up, carrying the insect with it, and imprisoning 
it within the flower. The insect can only escape by crawling up the column and 
passing between the two membranous projecting wings, emerging directly in front of 
the anther. In doing this, it is first smeared with viscid matter from the projecting 
rostellum, and then drags away the pollinia, which can hardly fail to adhere to its sticky 
body. When visiting another flower, it must pass over the stigma before escaping, 
and is almost certain to leave some of the pollinia on its viscid surface, For a fuller 
account, see a paper by myself in Trans. N.Z. Inst. v (1873) 352. 
A. Antennaea. Lower lip erect, its lobes narrowed into long points embracing the galea. 
* No broad radical leaves. Cauline leaves linear, grass-like, sheathing the whole 
stem. 
Tall, 6-18 in. Leaves 1-$in. broad. Flower large, 2-3 in. long ; 
sepals and petals produced into long filiform points. . .. LP. Banksii. 
Short, stout, 4-10in. Leaves $-3in. broad. Flower small, . 
3-]1in. long; sepals and petals with short subulate points... 2. P. australis, 
Slender, 4-10in. Leaves }-}in. broad. Flower small, {-{ in. 
long; sepals and petals with short subulate points. . .. oo LP. gramined. 
** Radical leaves broad, oblong to ovate or orbicular, few 
or numerous and rosulate. Cauline leaves narrow, often re-- 
duced to sheathing bracts. 
Slender, 4-12in. Lower leaves }-l}in., oblong; cauline 2-5, 
lanceolate, flat. Flower ?-ldin., galea not decurved .. 4. P. micromega. 
Slender, 4-6in. Cauline leaves 2-3, 14-2in. long, oblong- 
lanceolate, flat, finely reticulate. Flower 1}-1} in. long, galea 
not decurved .. ng = ai +h .. 8. P. areolata. - 
Stout or slender, 6-12 in. Lower leaves large, 14-3} in., broadly 
oblong ; cauline few, large, flat. Flower 1-1} in., galea much 
decurved at the tip. + a .. 6. P. Oliveri. 
Short, stout, 3-6in. Lower leaves numerous, rosulate, }-1{ in. ; 
long. Cauline leaves 2-3, sheathing. Flowers large, ¢-1 in., 
strongly decurved from the base .. ay ins . 
Stout, glabrous or glandular-pubescent, 2-8in. Lower leaves 
subrosulate, 1-13 in., elliptic-oblong ; cauline of 1-2 sheathing 
7. P. Matthewsit. 
bracts. Flowers 3in.; galea arched but not decurved .. 8. P. fohata. 
Small, 2-3in. Lower leaves 2-3, large, }-2 in., broadly oblong, 
cauline wanting. Flower }-?in. .. Ss he .. 9. P. venosa. 
Slender, glabrous, 2-Sin. Lower leaves long-petioled; blade 
ilin., ovate; cauline narrow, flat. Flower 4—] in. : 10. P. trullifolia. 
Puberulous, 2-6in. Lower leaves short-petioled; blade small, 
ovate; cauline of 2-4 sheathing bracts. Flowers $-3in. .. Jl. P. puberula. 
B. Catochilus. Lower lip reflexed. Basal appendage of lip entire, obtuse. 
Leaves ovate-lanceolate. Flower solitary, large, ?-lin. long. 
Lip filiform, clothed with golden-yellow hairs + .. 12. P. barbata. 
Leaves ovate. Flowers 2-8, small, 4 in. long ; lip oblong, obtuse, 
glabrous es i rs oe ne .. 13. P. mutica. 
1. P. Banksii R. Br. ex. A. Cunn. in Bot. Mag. (1832) t. 3172.—Tall, 
slender, leafy, grassy, 6-18 in. high. Lower leaves reduced to scarious sheath- 
ing scales; cauline numerous, sheathing the whole stem, usually overtopping 
