Phreatia spathulata J.J.Sm. in L.S.Gibbs, Phytogeogr. Fl. Arfak Mts. (1917) 126
Type: Gibbs 6004 (holo BM)
Very small. Rhizome elongated, creeping, branching, rooting, covered with tubular sheaths. Pseudobulbs very small, widely spaced, entirely covered with cataphylls, 2-leaved. Leaves erect, of unequal size, lanceolate-spathulate, obtuse, retuse, apiculate, when dried to 2.3 by 0.35 cm. Inflorescence distinctly longer than the leaves, laxly c. 13-flowered; peduncle thin, 4.5 cm long; peduncle-scales c. 6, tubular, apiculate, in the basal part more closely spaced, to 0.35 cm long; rachis thin, 3 cm long. Floral bracts ovate-triangular, acuminate, sharply acute, to 0.23 cm long. Flowers small. Median sepal ovate, obtuse, concave, 1-nerved, 0.2 by 0.14 cm. Lateral sepals divergent, broadly obliquely ovate, acute, obliquely concave, 1-nerved, 0.2 cm long, including the mentum 0.25 cm long, 0.2 cm wide. Petals obliquely ovate, subacute, concave, 1-nerved, 0.16 cm long, 0.1 cm wide. Lip slightly sigmoid, clawed, concave, when flattened 0.14 cm long; claw quadrangular, at the base on either side with a small rounded lobule, probably with two glands, 0.07 cm long, at the base 0.06 cm wide, abruptly dilated into the blade, blade crescent-shaped-reniform, inside papillose and near the base with two convex thickenings, 0.06 by 0.18 cm, the lateral lobes obtuse, apex very broadly rounded, in the middle slightly retuse with a distinct obtuse lobule in the sinus. Column short, making an obtuse angle with the ovary, dorsally convex, papillose, without anther 0.08 cm long; clinandrium deeply concave; rostellum broad; stigma transverse, with raised margins; column-foot pointing backwards, 0.1 cm long, at the base appressed to the ovary and inside convex, in the apical part incurved, narrower than the basal part, truncate. Ovary with pedicel triangular in cross-section, twisted, clavate, 0.35 cm long. (After Smith, 1917)
Colours: Flower white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest; 2000 to 2400 m.
Flowering time in the wild: December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 549-246M.JPG.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.