Phreatia finisterrae Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 916
Type: Schlechter 19092 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, erect, 10-12 cm high; roots filiform, glabrous. Stem almost lacking, hidden by the overlapping leaf-sheaths, 4-8-leaved. Leaves erect or suberect, narrowly linear, apex unequally and obtusely bilobulate with an apicule in between, gradually somewhat narrowed towards the base, 5-7 cm long, near the middle 2-3 cm wide, oblique. Inflorescence erect, rather densely many-flowered, elongated, becoming longer than the leaves, including the short peduncle c. 10 cm long. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, as long as the ovary or a little longer. Flowers minute, glabrous, not resupinate. Sepals ovate, obtuse, 0.08 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, towards the base dilated along the front margin. Petals obliquely elliptic, obtuse, 0.07 cm long. Lip with a short, suborbicular-concave claw, blade broadly suborbicular-rhombic, broadly obtuse, 0.65 cm long, the blade near the middle 0.55 cm wide. Column short; rostellum short, bidentate; clinandrium low. Anther reniform-cucullate, umbonate; pollinia obliquely obovoid; stipe a little shorter, linear; viscidium very small, orbicular. Ovary very shortly pedicellate, cylindrical, c. 0.1 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-77M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.