Phreatia micrantha (A.Rich.) Lindl., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 3, Index (1858) vi
Basionym: Oberonia micrantha
Epiphytic herb forming a single fan-like growth, up to 40 cm tall. Stem small, hidden by the overlapping leaf-sheaths, continuing to grow throughout the life of the plant, with 4-13 leaves. Leaves 6-35 by 1.1-2.5 cm, linear, obtuse, with an unequally bilobed apex. Inflorescences from the axils of the upper leaves, exceeding the leaves in length, erect or decurved; rachis usually longer than the peduncle, densely many-flowered. Flowers minute. Pedicel 0.15 cm long, ovary 0.2 cm long. Median sepal 0.15 by 0.1 cm, ovate, cucullate. Lateral sepals 0.15 by 0.15 cm, obliquely ovate; mentum short, rounded. Petals 0.1 by 0.07 cm, ovate. Lip shortly and broadly clawed, transversely broadly rhombic-elliptic, 0.12 by 0.12 cm, near the base with a shallow depression containing viscid fluid, on the claw with two small round glands. Column 0.07 cm long (excluding the rostellum), with a large, obtuse rostellum about as long as the column itself. (Mainly after Lewis & Cribb, 1991, and O’Byrne, 1994)
Colours: Flower pure white.
Colours: Flowers white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland and montane forest; 200 to 2600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February, March, April, May, July, August, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Australia, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, east to Samoa.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-293M.JPG.