Phreatia elongata Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 933
Type: Schlechter 16987; 18243 (syn B, lost)
Epiphytic, single-stemmed, 15-45 cm long; roots filiform, glabrous. Stem elongated, somewhat flattened, across the tightly clasping sheaths to 1 cm wide, densely leafy. Leaves erect-patent, ligulate, unequally bilobulate, obtuse, 5-9 cm long, near the middle 1.2-1.7 cm wide. Inflorescence densely many-flowered, elongated, two or three times as long as the leaves; peduncle nearly as long as the leaves, with a few small scales. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, about as long as the ovary. Flowers very small, erect patent, not resupinate. Sepals ovate, glabrous, 0.18 cm long. Median sepal obtuse. Lateral sepals shortly acuminate, oblique, near the base in front somewhat dilated. Petals obliquely ovate, obtuse, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip as long as the sepals; claw oblong-ligulate; blade broadly cordate, obtusely apiculate, in basal half minutely papillose-puberulous, 0.09 cm long, at the base 0.1 cm wide. Column very short; rostellum bidentate, as long as the broadly obtuse clinandrium. Anther reniform, cucullate, broadly cordate-umbonate; pollinia obliquely obovoid; stipe slender, as long as the pollinia, narrowly linear. Ovary and pedicel clavate, c. 0.35 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 600 to 2600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: March, April, June, September, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Solomon Islands.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-73M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.