Phreatia kempfii Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 16 (1919) 127
Type: Kempf s.n. (Kaiser Wilhelmsland, border between German- and Engl. N. Guinea) (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, erect, c. 16 cm high. Roots filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Rhizome very short. Pseudobulbs depressed-globose, 2-leaved, c. 0.4 cm high, c. 0.6 cm diam. Leaves suberect, ligulate, obliquely obtuse, to 7 by 0.4-0.6 cm. Inflorescence erect, almost twice as long as the leaves, with c. 6 clasping, shortly acuminate or apiculate, distant peduncle-scales, glabrous; rachis nodding, densely many-flowered, c. 5 cm long. Floral bracts ovate, acuminate, a little longer than the flowers. Sepals ovate, shortly and obtusely acuminate, glabrous, c. 0.2 cm long; lateral sepals strongly oblique, at the base along the front margin conspicuous dilated; mentum semielliptic obtuse, about 0.15 cm long. Petals obliquely ovate, ascending, apex subacuminate-narrowed, obtuse, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip at the base shortly clawed, blade square-ovate, shortly acuminate, at the base truncate, above the base with subulate papillae, a little shorter than the lateral sepals, at the very base with a porrect obliquely oblongoid spur about a fourth as long as the lip itself. Column very short; rostellum erect, a little longer than the dorsally raised clinandrium. Ovary pedicellate, clavate, c. 0.25 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1919)
Colours: Not recorded.
Habitat: Epiphyte.
Flowering time in the wild: Not known.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea.
Cultivation: Epiphyte.