Phreatia leucostachya

Phreatia leucostachya Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 945

Type: Schlechter 18828 (holo B, lost)

Epiphytic, c. 18 cm high. Rhizome very short; roots filiform, glabrous. Pseudobulbs crowded, ovoid, 1-leaved, 0.7 cm high, below the middle 0.5 cm diam. Leaf erect, narrowly oblanceolate-ligulate, subobtuse, gradually narrowed to the base, almost like a petiole, 9-12 cm long, above the middle 0.9-1.4 cm wide. Inflorescence ascending, densely many-flowered, cylindrical, almost twice as long as the leaves; peduncle terete, with c. 5 scales, about as long as the leaves. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, acuminate, as long as the flowers. Sepals broadly elliptic, obtuse. Later sepals minutely apiculate, oblique, towards the along the front margin a little dilated. Petals obliquely ovate, obtuse, distinctly smaller than the sepals. Lip about as long as the sepals, with a very short but distinct claw; blade broadly square-oblong, broadly obtuse, in basal half papillose-puberulous; spur parallel to the blade, oblongoid, broadly obtuse, about a third as long as the blade. Column very short; rostellum deeply bifid, distinctly shorter than the clinandrium. Anther reniform-cucullate, umbonate; pollinia obliquely obovoid; stipe linear, shorter than the pollinia; viscidium orbicular, very small. Ovary subsessile, glabrous, c. 0.2 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)

Colours: Flowers white.

Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest; 2200 m.

Flowering time in the wild: November.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-118M.JPG.

Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.

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