Phreatia cryptostigma

Phreatia cryptostigma Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 947

Type: Schlechter 17959; 18810 (syn B, lost)

Epiphytic, erect, 20-30 cm high. Rhizome very short; roots filiform, glabrous. Pseudobulbs globose, 2-leaved (including the leaf-bearing sheath), 1.3 cm diam. Leaves ligulate, acute, gradually narrowed towards the base, 15-25 cm long, near the middle 1.7-2.2 cm wide. Inflorescence curved, distichous, rather laxly many-flowered; peduncle with a few scales. Floral bracts broadly elliptic, only slightly longer than the ovary. Flowers large for the genus, glabrous. Sepals very broadly elliptic, broadly obtuse, 0.4 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, towards the base along the front margin strongly dilated. Petals obliquely suborbicular, obtuse, 0.25 cm long. Lip as long as the sepals; claw ligulate-cuneate; blade about as long as the claw, semioblong, obtuse; spur oblongoid obtuse, porrect, almost a third as long as the lip. Column short; rostellum much overtopping the clinandrium; stigma hidden by a transverse lamella. Anther suborbicular, apiculate; pollinia obliquely obovoid; stipe linear; viscidium round. Ovary subsessile, clavate, 0.45 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)

Colours: Flowers white.

Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest; 900 to 2000 m.

Flowering time in the wild: March, April, May, July, September, October, November.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-56M.JPG.

Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.

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