Phreatia dulcis

Phreatia dulcis J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 3 (1912) 77

Type: Bogor cult. (de Kock) 122 (holo BO), from West New Guinea, Southern Part

Pseudobulbs closely spaced, short-ovoid, somewhat laterally flattened, 0.8 cm long, 1.1 cm wide, at the base covered with cataphylls, 2-leaved. Leaves almost strap-shaped, apex unequally obtusely 2-lobulate, at the base conduplicate, along the mid-rib grooved above, prominent below, above on either side of the mid-rib convex, fleshy-coriaceous, 8 by 1.4-1.6 cm. Inflorescence arising from the axils of the lower cataphylls, elongated, ascending, curved, secund, laxly many-flowered, at the apex more lax; peduncle laterally flattened, 6.5 cm long; peduncle-scales small, c. 5, tubular; rachis angular, grooved, glabrous, 11.5 cm long. Floral bracts triangular, gradually acuminate, concave, to 0.18 cm long. Flowers very small, sweetly fragrant, 0.24 cm long. Median sepal erect, ovate-triangular, acute, convex, 0.13 by 0.1 cm. Lateral sepals obliquely broadly ovate-triangular, subobtuse, 0.13 by 0.15 cm; mentum short, pointing backwards, rounded, about 0.05 cm long. Petals obliquely elliptic, obtuse, 0.1 cm long, 0.07 cm wide. Lip concave, at the apex recurved, flattened, 0.13 cm long; claw broad, dilated on either side, 6-angular, with two longitudinal, narrow concavities, 0.08 cm wide; blade transversely triangular, basal corners erect, with recurved margins, apex obtuse, in the basal part puberulous, 0.04 cm long, 0.1 cm wide. Column very short, dorsally convex, 0.04 cm long; clinandrium large, concave, denticulate; rostellum prolonged, bipartite; column-foot making an acute angle with the ovary, incurved, linear, 0.03-0.04 cm long. Anther cucullate, transversely elliptic-reniform, very shortly rostrate, 0.05 cm wide; pollinia 8, obtriangular; stipe rather short, linear; viscidium lanceolate, 0.03 cm long; stigma transverse. Ovary with pedicel clavate, 6-grooved, 0.2 cm long. (After Smith, 1913)

Colours: Leaves dark green. Peduncle and rachis green. Flower white. Pollinia yellow. Ovary bright green.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest.

Flowering time in the wild: Not known.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia), southern part, locality not specified.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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