Phreatia breviscapa J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 19 (1908) 31
Type: Versteeg 1233 (syn BO); Versteeg 1521 (syn BO)
Stem short, 4- to 8-leaved. Leaves erect-patent, curved, petiolate, linear, apex unequally 2-dentate, with a short tooth-like mucro, half-folded-concave, somewhat fleshy, 3-5 by 0.2-0.4 cm, petiole thin, channelled-conduplicate, 0.5-1.5 cm long; sheaths overlapping, much broader than the petiole, longitudinally ribbed-veined, 0.5-0.75 cm long. Inflorescences axillary, shorter than the leaves, laxly many-flowered; peduncle 0.7-1 cm long, rachis angular, 2-3 cm long. Floral bracts appressed, ovate-triangular, obtuse or acute, concave, 1-nerved, 0.06-0.2 cm long. Flowers secund, very small, 0.1 cm wide. Median sepal obliquely erect, ovate-triangular, obtuse, 1-nerved, 0.07 by 0.06 cm. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-triangular, subacute, 1-nerved, 0.07 cm long and wide. Petals subovate or subrhomboid, broadly obtuse, 1-nerved, 0.06 cm long. Lip clawed, concave, 3-nerved, almost 0.1 cm long; claw almost square concave; blade transversely elliptic-semiorbicular, at the base more or less broadly cuneate, obtusely apiculate, 0.05 by 0.07 cm. Column very short, 0.03 cm long, clinandrium concave; stigma transversely crescent-shaped. Column-foot very short, recurved, parallel to the ovary, at the base convex, apex narrowed. Anther shortly cordate. Ovary 0.07 cm long; pedicel thinner than the ovary, 0.03 cm long. (After Smith, 1909)
Colours: Not recorded.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest.
Flowering time in the wild: June, July.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 549-26M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.