Phreatia microphyton Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 934
Type: Schlechter 19716 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, very small, 3.5-6 cm long. Rhizome very short, roots filiform, glabrous. Pseudobulbs ovoid, very small, 2-leaved, very closely spaced, 0.3-0.5 cm high, below the middle 0.2-0.4 cm diam. Leaves suberect, obliquely linear, obtuse, gradually somewhat narrowed towards the base, 1-3 cm long, near the middle 0.13-0.2 cm wide. Inflorescence slender, laxly 10-20-flowered, erect; peduncle almost as long as the leaves, with a few minute scales. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, a little shorter than the ovary. Flowers minute, glabrous, in cleistogamous. Sepals broadly elliptic, shortly acuminate, 0.13 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals obliquely ovate, obtuse, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip about as long as the sepals; claw ovate, concave; blade broadly reniform, broadly obtuse, with subcrenulate margins, 0.08 cm long, at the base 0.13 cm wide. Column short; rostellum triangular, bidentate; clinandrium semiorbicular, much overtopping the anther. Anther reniform-cucullate, apiculate. Ovary pedicellate, clavate, 0.23 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-146M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.