Phreatia simplex

Phreatia simplex Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 58 (1923) 151

Type: Ledermann 7627 (holo B, lost)

Epiphytic, small, caespitose, 7-10 cm high. Stems closely spaced, short, several-leaved, covered with the overlapping leaf-sheaths. Leaves erect-patent, linear, 3.7-5.5 by 0.3 cm, subobtuse, gradually somewhat narrowed towards the base, glabrous; leaf-sheaths dilated, near the apex along the margins on either side with a triangular tooth, with rough elevated lines. Racemes erect, 2-3 cm long, rather densely many-flowered, flowering to near the base, a little more than half as long as the leaves. Floral bracts ovate, acuminate, nearly as long as the flowers. Flowers minute, not resupinated, glabrous. Sepals ovate, about 0.1 cm long, obtuse. Lateral sepals oblique; mentum obtuse. Petals obliquely and narrowly ovate, obtuse, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip at the base semiquadrangular, suborbicular-dilated, apiculate or shortly subacuminate, slightly concave, almost as long as the sepals, 0.08 cm wide. Column short, rather thick; clinandrium low; rostellum erect, shortly and broadly triangular, shortly bifid; column-foot short, somewhat incurved. Ovary pedicellate, clavate, 0.13 cm long, glabrous. (After Schlechter, 1923)

Colours: Flower white.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 400 m.

Flowering time in the wild: June.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-239M.JPG.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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