Phreatia scandens J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 2 (1911) 19
Type: Kock, de 98 (holo BO)
Epiphytic, to 50 cm tall. Rhizome creeping, elongated, rooting, terete, covered with tubular sheaths. Pseudobulbs 2.5 cm apart, 1-leaved, very small, obliquely depressed-ovoid, 0.15-0.2 cm long, 0.23 cm diam., entirely concealed by the 0.5-0.9 cm long, sharply keeled cataphylls. Leaf oblanceolate, obtuse, slightly bilobed, dorsally at the apex minutely and obtusely apiculate, at the base very shortly conduplicate-contracted, above on either side of the mid-vein convex, fleshy, 2.2 by 0.68 cm; leaf-sheath resembling a petiole, conduplicate, 0.6-1 cm long. Inflorescence ascending, sigmoid, densely c. 11-flowered; peduncle 6.75-7 cm long; peduncle-scales becoming larger away from the base, tubular, keeled in the apical part, to 0.55 cm long; rachis angular, 2-2.5 cm long. Floral bracts patent, triangular, acute, concave, keeled, to 0.55 cm long. Flowers incurved, appressed to the rachis, 0.45 cm long, 0.35 cm wide. Sepals outside sparsely dotted with fine scale-hairs, somewhat cohering with the petals. Median sepal horizontal, ovate-triangular, narrowly obtuse, concave, strongly keeled, 0.24 cm long, 0.18 cm wide. Lateral sepals free in front, obliquely ovate, almost acuminate, tip obtuse, in the basal part strongly concave, keeled, 1-nerved, 0.25 cm long, to the tip of the mentum 0.45 cm long, at the base 0.25 cm wide; mentum pointing backwards, appressed to the ovary, rounded, 0.2 cm long. Petals small, ovate-lanceolate, subacute, concave, incurved, 0.2 cm long, 0.08 cm wide. Lip parallel to the column and the column-foot, erect, strongly concave, broadly clawed, 3-nerved, inside near the base with 2 calli, when flattened in outline rhombic, 0.35 cm long; claw strongly concave, subcuneate-quadrangular, 0.14 cm wide; blade broadly ovate-triangular, apex triangular-acuminate, tip acute, inside pubescent, 3-nerved, 0.23 by 0.24 cm. Column 0.14 cm long; clinandrium concave; rostellum bipartite, the segments narrowly subulate; stigma transverse, crescent-shaped; column-foot rather long, appressed to the ovary, 0.18 cm long. Anther cucullate, ovate, obtuse, at the base truncate, membranous, almost 0.1 cm long; pollinia 8, stipe slender, viscidium small. Ovary with pedicel thick, sharply 3-angled, dotted with dark fine scale-hairs, 0.34 cm long. (After Smith, 1913)
Colours: Flower white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest and heath-like shrubland; 1900 to 2867 m.
Flowering time in the wild: March, April, August, October, November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-228M.JPG.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte, requires shaded position.