Phreatia mentosa Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 940
Type: Schlechter 16663 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, c. 7 cm high. Rhizome creeping; roots filiform, glabrous. Pseudobulbs 1-1.5 cm apart, suborbicular, c. 0.3 cm diam., 1-leaved. Leaf erect, lanceolate-ligulate, subacute, at the base gradually narrowed into the long petiole, including the petiole 5-8 cm long, near the middle 0.7-0.8 cm wide. Inflorescence erect, rather densely 15-20-flowered, overtopping the leaves; peduncle with a few small scales, rather slender. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, as long as the ovary. Flowers very small, glabrous. Sepals ovate, 0.2 cm long. Lateral sepals apiculate, towards the base along the front margins distinctly dilated; mentum oblongoid, 0.18 cm long. Petals obliquely oblong, obtuse, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip about as long as the sepals; claw oblong-ligulate, at the base concave; blade shorter than the claw, almost square-reniform, apiculate. Column short; rostellum as long as the clinandrium. Anther broadly ovate-cordate, subacute; pollinia obliquely obovoid; stipe narrowly linear, a little longer than the pollinia; viscidium oblong, very small. Ovary shortly pedicellate, clavate, c. 0.25 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-142M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.