Phreatia brachyphyton Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 58 (1923) 149
Type: Ledermann 7628 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, very small, 2-3 cm high. Stems very short, covered with the overlapping leaf-sheaths. Leaves patent, oblong-ligulate, 1.5-1.8 cm long, above the middle 0.3-0.4 cm wide, obtuse, at the base narrowed into a short but distinct petiole, somewhat fleshy, glabrous; leaf-sheaths rugulose, near the apex on either side with an obtuse auricle. Inflorescence erect, 1.2-1.5 cm high, shortly pedunculate, densely many-flowered, almost as long as or clearly shorter than the leaves. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, as long as or a little than the flowers. Flowers minute, glabrous, not resupinated. Sepals ovate, subobtuse, almost 0.1 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique; mentum short, obtuse. Petals a little shorter than the sepals, obliquely ovate, obtuse. Lip almost square-elliptic, rounded at the base, 3-nerved, almost as long as the sepals, margins irregular, apex truncate-broadly obtuse, slightly notched, minutely apiculate. Column short; clinandrium dorsally a little widened, slightly longer than the short rostellum; column-foot short. Ovary pedicellate, clavate, almost 0.1 cm long, glabrous. (After Schlechter, 1923)
Colours: Flower white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 400 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-20M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.