Phreatia longibractea Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 928
Type: Schlechter 19140 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, suberect, 6-12 cm high; roots filiform, glabrous. Stem almost lacking, 3-4-leaved. Leaves suberect, ligulate, apiculate, gradually somewhat narrowed towards the base, 3-8 cm long, near the middle 0.5-0.9 cm wide. Inflorescence more or less overtopping the leaves, densely many-flowered, elongated; peduncle a little shorter leaves, with several acuminate scales. Floral bracts linear-lanceolate, acuminate, distinctly longer than the flowers. Flowers minute, glabrous. Sepals broadly elliptic, shortly acuminate or apiculate, 0.13 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, towards the base in front strongly dilated. Petals obliquely oblong, subacute, 0.1 cm long. Lip as long as the sepals; claw concave, oblong; blade about as long as the claw, very broadly reniform, apiculate, 0.13 cm wide at the base. Column short, rostellum bidentate, as long as the clinandrium. Anther reniform-cucullate, apiculate, umbonate; pollinia obliquely obovoid; stipe a little shorter than the pollinia, linear; viscidium very small. Ovary pedicellate, glabrous, 0.3 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-126M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.