Phreatia gladiata (A.Rich.) Lindl., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 3, Index (1858) vi
Basionym: Oberonia gladiata
Epiphyte; roots filiform, unbranched or branched, pubescent. Leaves basal, distichous, sheathing; sheaths overlapping, 7.5-10 cm long, strongly flattened, somewhat fleshy, split open, with thinner margins; blade elliptic-lanceolate, at the base conduplicate, articulated, at the apex obliquely and unequally obtusely bilobed, veined-striate, coriaceous, glabrous, 15-20 cm long, 3.8 cm wide. Inflorescence from the leaf-axil, terete, single, glabrous, a little longer than the leaves. Flowers rather small, sessile, distant. Rachis slender, 2-7.5 cm long. Floral bract longer than the flower, elliptic, sharply acute, persistent, entire. Sepals and petals porrect. Sepals almost equal, elliptic-oblong, acute. Median sepal somewhat broader, concave. Lateral sepals somewhat oblique, at the base in front slightly humped. Petals as long as the sepals but narrower, elliptic-lanceolate, acute. Lip elliptic-oblong, acute, concave, at the base narrowed and rather long clawed; claw curved, ascending, rather thick, articulated with the top of the column-foot; blade subpatent. Column rather short, dorsally convex, in front concave, carrying the stigma in the apical part. Anther subcordate, bilocular. Pollinia ‘2’ (should be 8), ovoid (After Richard, 1834).
Colours: Flower white.
Habitat: Lowland epiphyte; 0 to 30 m.
Flowering time in the wild: October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-294M.JPG.