Phreatia densispica Ridl., Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot. 9 (1916) 196
Type: Kloss s.n. (Camp 3, 2500 ft.) (holo BM)
Stem c. 2 cm long, thick; roots abundant, dense. Leaves lanceolate, acuminate, coriaceous, obtuse, 4.5-5 by 0.5 cm, sheaths 0.2-0.3 cm long, ribbed. Inflorescence axillary, 4 cm long, densely flowered, peduncle 1 cm long, covered with large, distant, acute, 1 cm long scales. Floral bracts as long as or longer than the flowers. Flowers minute. Median sepal ovate. Lateral sepals broader, ovate; mentum short, rounded obtuse. Petals lanceolate, obtuse, smaller than the sepals. Lip clawed; claw linear, channelled, blade ovate, rounded, small. Column-foot distinct. Anther ovate, rounded. Pedicel with ovary ovoid, 0.1 cm long. (After Ridley, 1916)
Colours: Not recorded. Note: According to Ridley there seem to be two forms, one very densely flowered with a short stem, the other with a stem as much as 4 cm long and 0.7 cm thick, and a laxer inflorescence.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 759 m.
Flowering time in the wild: Not known.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 549-64M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.