Phreatia louisiadum Kraenzl. in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV. 50. II. B. 23 (1911) 19
Type: MacGregor s.n. (Luisidae Arch., SE island) (holo B?, lost)
Stems thick, hidden between the leaf-sheaths, with up to 6 leaves on either side. Leaf-sheaths from the base up to the leaf somewhat narrowed, 3 cm long, articulation zone with the blade slightly curved; leaf-blade linear, 12-14 cm long, to 1.5 cm wide, folded at the base, flat in the uper part, at the apex strongly unequal bilobulate, the apex of the longer lobule obtuse, incurved; upper leaves smaller; all leaves coriaceous, minutely rugulose, shiny. Inflorescences straight or slightly nodding, shorter than the leaves, to 12 cm long, with two widely separated, long acuminate peduncle-scales; rachise short, elongating at anthesis, densely many-flowered. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, equalling or almost surpassing the flowers, c. 0.3 cm long. Flowers about 0.12 cm long and wide. Median sepal ovate-oblong, subobtuse. Lateral sepals much larger, broadly ovate, in front dilated; mentum hardly developed. Petals much smaller than the sepals, ovate, acute. Lip attached to the short slightly curved column-foot, at the base on either side with a minute callus, when flattened rhombic or almost quadrangular, apex narrowly obtuse. Stigmatic cavity with strongly prominent lower margin, half concealed by the strongly prominent, 2-dentate rostellum; clinandrium deeply concave, declined, dorsal. Anther not strongly concave, in front slightly acute, fairly large. (After Kraenzlin, 1911)
Colours: Flower white.
Habitat: Not known.
Flowering time in the wild: Not known.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Louisiade Arch.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-132M.JPG.