Phreatia altigena Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 185
Type: Schlechter 13989 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, erect, almost stemless, c. 10 cm high; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Stem very short, entirely hidden by the leaf-sheaths. Leaves distichous, linear, subobtuse, somewhat narrowed towards the base, glabrous, coriaceous, erect-patent, 7-8 cm long, near the middle 0.3-0.4 cm wide; sheaths dilated, clasping, 0.7- 0.8 cm long. Inflorescence erect, unbranched, longer or shorter than the leaves, at the base with a few small peduncle-scales; rachis elongated, to 5 cm long, densely many-flowered, c. 0.4 cm diam. across the flowers. Floral bracts patent, lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, usually a little longer than the pedicellate ovary. Median sepal ovate, obtuse, glabrous, c. 0.15 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, broadly ovate, obtuse, along the front margins towards the base dilated, glabrous, as long as the median sepal. Petals obliquely oblong, shortly acuminate, glabrous, somewhat smaller than the sepals. Lip oblong-elliptic, very shortly and obtusely apiculate, thickened along the mid-vein, with subundulate margins, 0.15 cm long. Column short; rostellum and clinandrium low. Anther rounded; ovary shortly pedicellate, clavate, glabrous, c. 0.15 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1905)
Colours: Flowers pure white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-5M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.