Phreatia pholidotoides Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 943
Type: Schlechter 19608 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, 11-17 cm high. Rhizome elongated, creeping; roots filiform, glabrous. Pseudobulbs 2-3 cm apart, conical, 1-leaved, 4-7 mm high, at the base 0.5-0.6 cm diam. Leaf erect, linear, unequally and obtusely bilobulate, gradually somewhat narrowed towards the base, 6.5-10 cm long, near the middle 0.5-0.8 cm wide. Inflorescence laxly 10-15-flowered, distichous; peduncle with several scales, erect, almost as long as the leaf. Floral bracts broadly ovate, acuminate, clasping, as long as or a little longer than the flower. Flowers rather large, not resupinate, subsessile, glabrous. Sepals broadly elliptic, apiculate, 0.3 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, at the base along the front margin conspicuously dilated. Petals about half as long as the sepals, obliquely oblong, obtuse. Lip obovate-spathulate, obtuse, near the base somewhat dilated and with a transverse keel, 0.45 cm long, in apical fourth 0.25 cm wide. Column short; rostellum a little longer than the clinandrium. Anther broadly cordate, shortly acuminate; pollinia obliquely obovoid; stipe narrowly oblanceolate-linear, slightly more than half as long as the pollinia; viscidium minute. Ovary shortly pedicellate, c. 0.5 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers white, anther red with white thecae.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: May.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-186M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.