Thelasis phreatioides J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 45 (1911) 11
Type: Bogor cult. (Branderhorst, 1909, upper Digoel) 99 b (holo BO; iso L)
Stem short, fleshy. Leaves c. 6 or more, distichous, dense, patent, ligulate, obliquely obtuse, with the mid-rib grooved above, keeled below, in the basal part conduplicate, 14-18.5 by 1.9-2.1 cm; leaf-sheaths patent, at the base dilated, overlapping, elongated, conduplicate, 4.3-5.3 cm long. Inflorescences axillary, sigmoid, pedunculate, rather densely many-flowered; peduncle in cross-section subelliptic, 11 cm long, 0.2 cm diam.; peduncle-scales small, c. 3 of them tubular, acuminate, keeled, 0.9-1.1 cm long, two bract-like; rachis angular, 8 cm long. Floral bracts appressed, oblong, subulate-acuminate, concave, to 0.57 cm long, the upper ones smaller. Flowers widely patent, minute, 0.28 cm wide and long. Sepals and petals obliquely almost bell-shaped-cohering. Median sepal triangular, obtuse, concave, 0.23 by 0.15 cm. Lateral sepals obliquely triangular, subacuminate, obtuse, concave, 0.25 by 0.23 cm; mentum very short, rounded. Petals oblong-elliptic, slightly oblique, obtuse, slightly apiculate, 0.25 by 0.13 cm. Lip subsessile, curved, concave with the apex recurved, at the base on either side of the median rib with a short longitudinal concavity, when flattened ovate, obtuse, minutely apiculate, 0.23 by 0.15 cm. Column very short, 0.15 cm long; clinandrium deeply concave; rostellum elongated, triangular, bipartite; stigma crescent-shaped. Anther cucullate, at the base subquadrangular, narrowly triangular-rostrate, acute, 0.13 cm long. Ovary slightly pedicellate, thick, 0.35 cm long. (After Smith, 1911)
Colours: Leaves green. Peduncle, rachis and bracts pale green. Flower white, lip at the base yellowish, column green, anther white, in the middle pale green; ovary green.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest, often on limestone hills or on coral rock; 5 to 450 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February, May, June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 686-36M.JPG.