Orchids are usually termed the aristocrats of plant life. The presence of over 130 species in Western Australia adds considerable interest to the study of her magnificent and world-famous flora.
The order or family Orchidaceae was originally defined by Haller in the 18th Century, its name being adapted from the root of Orchis, a well-known genus in the temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere. It belongs to the group of plants known as monocotyledons, which have seeds generating in a single lobe, and with few exceptions, parallel-veined leaves. The Orchidaceae family is a very large one, represented in the world by over 400 genera and many thousands of species, especially abundant in the Tropics, and rare in the Arctic regions.
West Australian orchids, which are practically all terrestrial, cannot be compared to some found in Brazil, the Malay States, India, and other tropical places, for size, vividness of colour, and bizarre marking. But their delicate tints, dainty fragility of form, the curious structure of many of the species, and their methods of fertilisation, constitute beauty that endears them to young and old, and characteristics that fascinate the botanist.
A tropical South American orchid (Coryanthes, Hooker, four species) has the honour of being considered the most wonderful flower in the world, It is an epiphyte (which means that it grows attached to the trunk or branches of a tree without being parasitical, or on a rock-face, but never in the ground) and has pendulous flowers marvellously constructed for the purpose of ensuring fertilisation by insects. Below a part composed of succulent tissue very attractive to bees, is a bucket-like organ kept full of a thin watery fluid that drips into it. The bees fight for places to secure the succulent tissue, and every now and then one falls, or gets pushed off, into the bucket. It can neither fly nor climb out and is forced to squeeze through a sort of narrow' overflow pipe. In so doing it passes the stigma, fertilising it, if any pollen is borne, and then, passing the anther, is loaded with a fresh supply of pollen to be carried to other flowers.
Stanhopea, Frost, another tropical American epiphyte also has flowers of wonderful construction and large size, some being eight inches in diameter. In one species (S. tigrina, Bateman) a certain part, the only escape from a bucket trap covered with juicy hairs is so slippery that fertilisation is effected by bees sliding down it on to the column. These and other magnificent tropical orchids grown under cultivation in Europe, are illustrated in colour in a French book entitled "Les Orchidees," by E. de Puydt.
Pterostylis, an Australian genus well represented in Western Australia, was specially mentioned by Darwin on account of the curious construction of its flowers and interesting methods of fertilisation, in his book, "The Fertilisation of Orchids."

Orchids, like all other classified plants, have two names. The first, usually of Greek derivation, denotes the genus to which it belongs, and the second, generally a Latin word, the species. In some cases personal names commemorating distinguished botanists and others have been used, but the names, when translated, usually indicate some characteristic of genus or the species. "Why not simple English names?" is a question often asked that can be best explained, perhaps, by mentioning the fact that science knows no nationality. A great deal of West Australian botanical collection, research classification, has been done by foreign enthusiasts. It is a good thing the custom exists of using a common dead language such as Greek or Latin, for purposes of scientific nomenclature. Otherwise, we should indeed have been saddled with some puzzles in connection with the naming of our native flowers.
The name written immediately after an orchid or other classified flower, is that of the botanist who originally named it. It will be noticed that the majority of West Australian orchids owe their titles to Robert Brown, the "grand old man of Australian botany. Originally an army surgeon, he was appointed by Sir Joseph Banks to accompany Flinders, as naturalist, on his voyage of discovery to Australia in "Investigator." Robert Brown was subsequently Keeper Botany at the British Museum, and is honoured as the greatest systematic botanist of all time. Several genera and many species of orchids were named by Professor John Lindley, a celebrated English botanist, many years a deeply interested, worker on Australian plants.
Other famous botanists responsible for the naming of numerous species were George Bentham, author of "Flora Australiensis," a comprehensive work on Australian plants; Baron Ferdinand von Mueller, botanical explorer and writer, for many years Government Botanist of Victoria; and R. D. Fitzgerald, who wrote and illustrated in colour a priceless work on Australian orchids. Mr. Fitzgerald died, unfortunately, before his task was finished. A large number of his unpublished drawings are stored at the Mitchell Library, Sydney, New South Wales. Apart from the beautiful full-page plates, lucid descriptions and field notes of the varieties dealt with in the two volumes of "Fitzgerald's Australian Orchids," fascinating facts and theories concerning their fertilisation are included.
Dr. R. S. Rogers, of Adelaide, South Australia, is the present-day authority on Australian orchids. Besides describing many new West Australian species, Dr. Rogers has contributed much valuable information, based on personal knowledge of the living plants, through the medium of various botanical publications, dealing with other West Australian orchids, both well-known and rarely collected.
Mrs. Edith Coleman, of Blackburn, Victoria, has made special study of West Australian orchids, and enjoys the honour of being the only woman to describe and name new orchid species in Western Australia. Mrs. Coleman has contributed valuable addition to the known facts concerning the pollination of various species. Mr. O. H. Sargent, of Perth, also has specialised in orchid observation, and defined and named many species.
The common names by which many orchids are known are extremely interesting, but by no means satisfactory for identification purposes. The same name is often applied to several species, and in various places the same orchid is known by different names, which is confusing. The correct botanical names of most West Australian orchids are euphonious, and not too difficult for even children to learn. Once the meanings are understood and the described characteristics have been observed in the growing plants, the terrors of the names vanish, and their usage becomes a matter of course.
The following rules have been laid down for the correct spelling of botanical names: Generic names should always begin with a capital letter. A capital letter should be used for the name of a species derived from the name of a person. The termination "ii" is used with personal names (masculine) after all consonants except "r," e.g., Menziesii, Muelleri; but not after vowels, e.g., Purdiei. The gender of an adjective species should agree with that of the generic name.
No absolutely authoritative ruling can be quoted for the proper pronunciation of the generic names of the various orchids, and it is surprising how many different ways some of them can be, and are pronounced. In hope of something definite in this respect being adopted by West Australia orchid-lovers, the pronunciations commonly used by botanist are indicated in this book.
Classification of West Australian orchids, so far as genus is concerned, is not usually difficult. With a little practice correct identification of the different species becomes easy if a book of reference is available, although examination of specimens under a lens is sometimes necessary. Pictures and detailed drawings are helpful, but to "run out," as botanist term working from detailed descriptions, is the most unsatisfactory way of arriving definitely at right identification. With the aid of this book it should not be beyond the power of any person or child of reasonable age, sufficiently interested, to learn to run out both genus and species of any West Australian orchid for themselves. The use of difficult technical terms has been avoided as much as possible. A glossary, however, is appended which explains the meaning of certain word considered necessary for concise and clear description. Idea can be obtained from the illustrations as to the genus of a specimen. If that genus be turned up and the general description found to agree, the details of the various species can be glanced through until one is discovered that corresponds in shape and colour, size of leaf, parts of flower, etc. To cormpare the descriptions of well-known varieties with living specimens is good practice for learning to deal with orchids not so well known.

The chief characteristic of an orchid flower is the column, composed of the united male and female generative organs, stamens and pistil, and bearing upon it a small button-like projection known as the rostellum, covered, like the stigma, with a sticky glue like substance attractive to insects.
Orchids are fertilised by pollen-grains falling from the anther on to the stigma, or being deposited upon it by pollen bearing insects visiting the flower. Should the rostellum be touched by an insect (or even for purposes of experiment with a pin) the pollen masses are released from the anther at the top of the column. The column often bears wing-like, semi-transparent appendages that assist in the direction of insects to the rostellum.
At the base of the column is the ovary or seed capsule. The perianth consists of three sepals, forming the outer row, and three petals alternate with them, forming the inner row, all adherent to the ovary. The sepals are usually darker outside than the petals. A distinctive feature of an orchid flower is that the third petal or labellum (commonly called the lip) is usually unlike the others, and of strange and unexpected shape. In many cases the lip has a part to play in assisting fertilisation by insects. Its appearance attracts them. The rows of calli or glandular hairs upon it in some species, guide crawling insects to the base of the column. When the lip is fringed, insects often get entangled, and their struggles for freedom generally result in pollen being deposited upon the stigma. In some instances the lip springs forward at the lightest touch, being provided with a hinge-like contrivance, so that insects alighting on the lip are forced against the column and held there.
Some orchids, owing to the arrangement of the generative parts, are capable of self-pollination, but, the majority are dependent upon insects for fertilisation, the pollen usually being carried from other flowers. Those species that are selffertilised always produce a far greater proportion of seed.
The seed-capsule of an orchid is three-celled, each cell containing a great number of tiny seeds. The quantity produced is counterbalanced by the fact that the seeds do not germinate freely, and the enormous number of flowers on varieties dependent on insects for reproduction, that bloom and wither without being fertilised.
Although orchids seed freely when fertilised, the reproduction of terrestrial species is largely carried on by multiplication of the root tubers, and for this reason an orchid plant should never be torn heedlessly from the ground. If the flower is carefully picked from above, or even just below the lower leaf or leaves, no damage is done and it will grow up again.

The study of orchids should appeal to any lover of Nature's beauty and wonders, and is one to be encouraged. Orchid-hunting is a delightful pastime entailing much healthful walking exercise, and adding unending charm to bush excursions. The interest of the beginner who has acquired some knowledge of species and habits, rapidly becomes the enthusiasm of the keen collector. And there is no doubt that the pursuit of Nature-study once cultivated by those lucky bush-dwellers with opportunity at their door-step, does much to relieve the monotony of country life.
"Live and let live," however, should be the motto of those orchid-seekers who strive to pick every flower on sight-a practice that can have but one result, the gradual but sure extermination of even the commonest kinds. Most children, and grown-ups also, have much to learn in this respect. Just a few carefully selected specimens in a loose bunch are ever so much more effective than hundreds of blooms tightly packed into a great mass than can scarcely be held in the hand. Orchids picked in this wholesale fashion usually are thrown away almost as soon as gathered or upon reaching home, because of their pitiable crushed and wilted condition, or the impossibility of using such quantities for decorative purpose in any one house. Quality and- variety, not quantity, should be the aim of the orchid-hunter, also the opportunity of noting the characteristics of different species.
Children love orchids. They see quaint resemblances to something or other in almost every familiar variety. Perhaps because West Australian orchids mostly are plants of lowly stature, and the eyes of children are nearer the ground than those of grown-ups, boys and girls usually have what is known as "the orchid eye" exceedingly well developed, and are wonderfully quick at noticing species often unobserved by the casual passer-by.
A carefully prepared and properly classified orchid collection is of great interest. The specimens should be pressed by placing them carefully between sheets of blotting-paper as flat as possible and applying pressure with a hot iron. They should then be neatly mounted on a piece of stout white paper - not stuck on, but held in position by several narrow strips of adhesive paper - and labelled with the correct botanical name, colour, the common name or names by which known, locality where found, and the date. The various species should be grouped together under the headings of their respective genera, and the whole collection kept either in folders made of thick paper, or mounted on heavy paper and the sheets bound together by fine cord run through punched holes on the loose-leaf system, so that fresh specimens may be put away in their proper places as collected.
Systematic botanists are often compelled to rely solely upon dried specimens of plants from different lands for purposes of study and description. Bentham's monumental work, "Flora Australiensis" affords a striking example from a classification point of view of what can be attained without personal knowledge of the flora of a country in its natural state. But no one interested, and fortunate enough to live within reach of the living and growing plants, should be content with such acquaintance with orchids. The observation of the growth and development of the various species from week to week, and year to year, is a fascinating hobby, Notes carefully kept with comparisons of various individual plants of the same variety growing under different conditions may yield valuable unrecorded information. It is in this way, for in stance, that one becomes acquainted with the great change in the whole form of the plant which such a common orchid a Pterostylis vittata undergoes during the first three year of its growth. Many of the orchids in Western Australia such as this one which grows readily from seed, are easily cultivated in boxes or pots and under such conditions can be studied at frequent intervals without difficulty. (See Lyperanthus Forrestii and Cryptostylis ovata.)

West Australian orchids, excepting those of the northern tropical area, are all terrestrial; that is, they growr in the ground. In the northern regions of Western Australia epiphytical and other tropical orchids have been found. Specimens in the Government herbariums from the Kimberley district, include Eulophia venosa, Reichenbach fil; Cymbidium canaliculatum, R. Brown; and Dendrobium dicuphum, F. von Mueller. The humid atmosphere of the tropical area of Western Australia is more favourable to the growth, of epiphytes than the temperate regions of the southern portion of the State, where in the summer the rainfall is slight, and the moisture necessary for tree orchids dries out of the bark surrounding the trunks of forest trees. With the exception of one species of Gastrodia and perhaps the recently discovered Rhizanthella, all West Australian orchids belong to the tribe Neottieae, in which the anther is erect or bent forward and persistent. Species of genera (including Gastrodia) belonging to the Arethuseae tribe have the anther lid-like, incumbent, and usually deciduous.

In the following pages descriptions will be found of the terrestrial orchids native to Western Australia. Localities, with month of flowering, have in almost every instance, been appended to each detailed description. But attempt has not been made to define exactly either the range, situation or flowering period of the various species, as most of them widely distributed and indifferent, apparently, to any particular class of soil. The places and times given, however, serve as a guide for the collection of specially desired species The majority of West Australian orchids thrive equally in forest glades, river beds or swampy places, in the vicinity of flooded flats, sandy soil or on granite mountain range or coastal limestone hills. Flowering times vary according situation, sometimes extending over several months.
Many orchids may be found upon the slopes of, or on flats adjacent to the Darling Range. Some varieties are fairly plentiful in and around Perth and suburbs on vacant virgin land, and in the vicinity of the upper reaches of Swan and Canning rivers.