Phreatia caudata Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 926
Type: Schlechter 16892 (holo B, lost); para: Schlechter 19041 (B, lost)
Epiphytic, erect, slender, 17-20 cm high; roots filiform, glabrous. Stems very short, hidden by the leaf-sheaths, 4-6-leaved. Leaves suberect, falcate, narrowly linear, acute, gradually somewhat narrowed towards the base, 10-15 cm long, near the middle 0.25-0.35 cm wide. Inflorescence slender, curved, or suberect, tail-like, elongated, rather densely many-flowered, as long as or longer than the leaves; peduncle with a few small scales, about as long as the rachis. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, usually about as long as the flower, sometimes a little longer. Flowers minute, not resupinate, glabrous. Sepals ovate, subobtuse, about 0.1 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, at the base along the front margin strongly dilated. Petals obliquely elliptic, obtuse, c. 0.08 cm long. Lip 0.1 cm long, with an oblong somewhat concave claw; blade semiorbicular-reniform, apiculate, c. 0.05 by 0.09 cm. Column short; rostellum short, bidentate; clinandrium a little shorter than the rostellum. Anther reniform-cucullate, umbonate; pollinia obliquely obovoid; stipe linear, a little shorter than the pollinia; viscidium minute, rounded. Ovary shortly pedicellate, clavate, glabrous, 0.13 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 250 to 2000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, March, November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-34M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.