Phreatia brevis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 915
Type: Schlechter 20173 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, erect, very small, 1.5-3.5 cm high; roots filiform, glabrous. Stem almost lacking, hidden by the leaves, 4-8-leaved. Leaves erect-patent or subpatent, linear, apex unequally and obtusely bilobulate, 1.5-3.5 cm long, near the middle 0.23-0.3 cm wide. Inflorescence erect, densely many-flowered, almost as long as the leaves. Floral bracts lanceolate, long acuminate, equalling or nearly equalling the flowers. Flowers minute, glabrous, not resupinate. Median sepal about orbicular, broadly obtuse, 0.08 cm long. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-triangular, subobtuse, as long as the median sepal. Petals obliquely oblong-ovate, obtuse, distinctly shorter than the sepals. Lip at the base narrowed, almost with a claw and with incurved margins, blade orbicular apiculate, 0.07 cm long, near the middle 0.05 cm wide. Column very short; rostellum broadly triangular, notched; clinandrium very low; foot short; stigma narrow, transverse. Anther broadly rhomboid-cucullate, umbonate; pollinia obliquely obovoid; stipe narrowly linear, nearly as long as the pollinia; viscidium minute, elliptic. Ovary pedicellate, clavate, c. 0.1 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Not recorded.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 800 m.
Flowering time in the wild: September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-25M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.