Phreatia maxima Kraenzl. in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV. 50. II. B. 23 (1911) 16
Type: Micholitz s.n. (New Guinea, Milne Bay) (holo B?, lost)
Stems to 4 cm long, more than 2 cm wide, 1 cm thick. Leaves to 6 on either side, sheaths 6-10 cm long, in the upper part 1 cm, towards the base to 1.5 cm wide, articulation zone with the blade almost semicircular; blade lorate, 30-36 cm long, to 2 cm wide, apex obtusely bilobulate, blades of the upper leaves much smaller. Inflorescence shorter than the leaves or about equally long; rachis 10-15 cm long, densely many-flowered. Floral bracts at the base ovate, acuminate, 0.2 cm long, about as long as the pedicellate ovary. Flower 0.4 cm long and across, of crystalline texture. Median sepal ovate-oblong, subacute. Lateral sepals broadly ovate, somewhat dilated in front; mentum short, saccate. Petals minute, thin-textured, ovate, subobtuse. Lip short-clawed, abruptly dilated, in front rounded, almost wider than long, when flattened indistinctly deltoid. Rostellum rather thick, apex slightly notched, stigmatic cavity slightly swollen along the lower margin; clinandrium deeply concave, dorsal. Anther large, strongly adhering to the filament and hard to separate. Ovary shortly pedicellate, subtriangular, with three grooves. Fruit rather thick, pyriform, carrying the remains of the flower. (After Kraenzlin, 1911)
Colours: Flower white.
Habitat: Not known.
Flowering time in the wild: Not known.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea, Milne Bay.