Phreatia brachystachys Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 186
Type: Schlechter 14672 (holo B, lost; iso BO, BR, BRI, K, NSW, P, W)
Epiphytic, very small, erect, not branching, 2.5-5 cm high; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Stem very short, usually almost lacking, entirely covered with the leaf-sheaths. Leaves distichous, erect-patent, linear, acute, gradually somewhat narrowed towards the base, coriaceous, 2-3.5 by 0.3-0.4 cm, glabrous, dorsally keeled. Inflorescence erect, laxly 10-30 flowered, shorter than the leaves. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, as long as the pedicellate ovary. Flowers secund, patent or pendent, minute. Median sepal broadly ovate, obtuse, glabrous. Lateral sepals as long as the median sepal, acuminate, oblique, glabrous, dilated along the front margin. Petals obliquely oblong-ovate, obtuse, glabrous, somewhat smaller than the sepals. Lip at the base broadly cuneate, rhombic, broadly obtuse, about as long as the sepals. Column very short, foot elongated; clinandrium dorsally expanded; rostellum low, shallowly notched. Anther reniform, in front broadly obtuse; pollinia obliquely pear-shaped; stipe linear, as long as the pollinia. Ovary clavate, glabrous, pedicellate, hardly more than 0.1 cm long. Fruit oblong, 0.25 cm long, 0.1 cm diam. (After Schlechter, 1905)
Colours: Flowers pale greenish.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-21M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.