Phreatia brevicaulis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 931
Type: Schlechter 19668 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, erect, very small, 2-4 cm high; roots, filiform, glabrous. Stem distinct but short, densely leafy, covered with the leaf-sheaths. Leaves patent, linear, obtuse, falcate, 1-1.5 cm long, near the middle 0.1-0.15 cm wide, at the base somewhat narrowed. Inflorescence erect, laxly 5-10-flowered, as long as the leaves or slightly longer. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, shorter than the pedicellate ovary. Flowers very small, not resupinate, glabrous. Sepals broadly elliptic, subacute, 0.13 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, towards the base in front somewhat dilated, shortly subacuminate. Petals obliquely elliptic, subacute, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip 0.13 cm long; claw suborbicular, somewhat concave; blade abruptly dilated, broadly reniform, obtusely apiculate, subcrenulate, 0.08 cm long, at the base 0.1 cm wide. Column short; rostellum short, bidentate; clinandrium broadly triangular, overtopping the rostellum. Anther square-reniform, cucullate; pollinia obliquely obovoid; stipe very short, linear; viscidium minute. Ovary pedicellate, clavate, c. 0.25 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-24M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.