the lobes filiform, erect, separated by a broad truncate sinus which bears a small inflexed tooth in the middle. Lip linear-oblong, obtuse, its tip barely exserted; basal appendage linear, curved, penicillate at the tip. Column about half the length of the galea, the wings with a small erect triangular upper lobe or tooth, the lower lobe linear-oblong, obtuse.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 269.
North Island: Auckland—Clay hills from the Kaipara Harbour southwards to the Thames and Middle Waikato, not common. South Island: Nelson—Vicinity of Westport, Townson! September–October.
A distinct little plant, well marked by the puberulous stems, small rosulate leaves, the short blunt curved tip to the galea, and comparatively short filiform points to the lateral sepals.
10. P. barbata, Lindl. Swan River App. 53.—Stem stout or slender, glabrous, 4–8 in. high. Leaves radical, crowded at the base of the stem, often rosulate, erect, sessile, ¼–¾ in. long, ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, acute or acuminate. Stem above the leaves with 2–5 large loosely sheathing erect empty bracts. Flower solitary, ¾–1 in. long. Galea erect, incurved at the tip, oblong; upper sepal and petals both produced into short subulate points, the latter very narrow. Lower lip linear, deflexed, 2-lobed about half-way down, the lobes very narrow, acute or obtuse. Lip ½–¾ in. long, filiform, terete, exserted, pendulous, fringed with long golden yellow hairs and terminated by a large capitate or irregularly lobed purple gland; appendix very short, curved, penicillate at the tip. Column slender, erect; the wings each with a long erect subulate tooth on the front angle, the lower lobe narrow, ciliate.—Benth. Fl. Austral. vi. 362. P. squamata, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 249; Fl. Tasm. ii. 20, t. 116; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 269 (not of R. Br.).
North Island: Auckland—Exact locality not stated, Sinclair! near Kaitaia, R. H. Matthews! Lower Thames Valley, from Kopu to Puriri and Kerikeri, Adams! between Mercer and Miranda, T.F.C.; Tirau and other localities in the Upper Thames Valley, T.F.C. October–November.
A very remarkable little plant, at once recognised by the filiform exserted lip, plumose with bright-yellow hairs. It is a common Tasmanian plant, and is also found in South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales.
11. P. mutica, R. Br. Prodr. 328.—Rather stout, 2–5 in. high. Leaves radical, forming a rosette at the base of the stem, sometimes withering at the flowering season, shortly petiolate, ⅓–¾ in. long, ovate, acute, veins reticulated. Stem with 2–5 large sheathing bracts above the leaves. Raceme 2–8-flowered; flowers small, about ¼ in. long, greenish-brown. Galea very broad, much incurved, obtuse or subacute at the tip. Lower lip small, reflexed, concave, nearly orbicular when spread out, 2-lobed almost to the middle. Lip on a very short flat claw, lamina broadly oblong, obtuse; appendage broad at the base, short and thick, entire, rounded or emarginate at the tip. Column erect; wings broad,
