Phreatia virescens Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 941
Type: Schlechter 19611 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, 6-11 cm high. Rhizome flexuose, creeping; roots filiform, glabrous. Pseudobulbs c. 1.5 cm apart, globose, 0.3-0.4 cm diam., 1-leaved. Leaf erect, elliptic, obtuse, at the base gradually petiolate-narrowed, 2.5-3.5 cm long, near the middle 0.9-1.3 cm wide. Inflorescence erect, rather densely c. 10-flowered, curved, secund; peduncle two or three times as long as the leaves, with a few scales. Floral bracts ovate, acute, two or three times shorter than the ovary. Flowers very small, glabrous. Sepals ovate, acute, 0.23 cm long. Lateral sepals shortly acuminate, oblique, at the base along the front margin strongly dilated. Petals obliquely rhombic-ovate, acute, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip as long as the sepals; claw oblong-concave; blade about as long as the claw, subreniform, obtusely apiculate, at the base c. 0.18 cm wide. Column short, glabrous; rostellum slightly overtopping the clinandrium. Anther reniform-cucullate; pollinia obliquely obovoid; stipe linear, a little shorter than the pollinia; viscidium minute. Ovary pedicellate, clavate, 0.28 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers yellowish green; anther white with brown thecae.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest, also on edge of creek on sand; 833 to 2500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: May, October, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Solomon Islands.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-277M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.