Phreatia grandiflora J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12 (1913) 26
Type: Gjellerup 1036 (holo BO; iso L) [in Nova Guinea as Gjellerup 1030, on label and in protologue as 1036]
Rhizome creeping, elongated, terete, rooting, 0.26 cm diam., initially covered with sheaths. Pseudobulbs 2-4.5 cm apart, obliquely depressed-conical, 0.45 cm high, 0.5 cm diam., 1-leaved, initially enveloped in cataphylls. Leaf articulated, erect, spathulate-oblanceolate, obtuse, slightly unequally rounded-bilobulate with a short conical apicule, gradually long petiolate-narrowed, in the basal part conduplicate, above on either side of the grooved mid-vein convex and transversely rugulose, below obtusely keeled and sparsely furfuraceous-punctate, 4-7.75 by 0.8-1 cm; petiole laterally flattened with a longitudinal groove, 1.2-1.4 cm long; leaf sheath resembling a petiole, laterally flattened, 1.2-1.4 cm long. Inflorescences arising from the base of the pseudobulbs, erect, elongated, laxly 6-11-flowered; peduncle 6-15 cm long; peduncle-scales small, 6-9, tubular, acute, keeled, to 1.2 cm long; rachis angular, furfuraceous, 1.5-4 cm long. Floral bracts appressed to and surpassing the ovary, ovate, acute, concave, 1-nerved, to 0.8 by 0.55 cm. Flowers patent, opening well, 0.63 cm wide, almost 1 cm long. Sepals outside sparsely furfuraceous-punctate. Median sepal erect, oblong, obtuse, concave, 1-nerved, somewhat fleshy, almost 0.4 cm long, 0.2 cm wide. Lateral sepals with a large oblong-obovate, concave lobe decurrent on the column-foot, loosely clasping the claw of the lip, front margins parallel but not cohering, obliquely ovate-triangular, acute, concave, 1-nerved, 0.43 by 0.27 cm, at the base 0.6 cm wide; mentum large, appressed to the ovary, straight, oblong, 2-lobed, 0.45 cm long. Petals patent, divergent, oblong, obtuse, slightly concave, 1-nerved, slightly over 0.3 cm long, 0.14 cm wide. Lip entire, spathulate, when flattened 0.65 cm long, parallel with the column-foot, erect, at the apex obtusely recurved, concave, 1-nerved, at the base on either side with a short additional nerve that ends in an oblong gland-like callus; claw oblong, in the middle slightly dilated, outside minutely umbonate, slightly more than 0.2 cm long, 0.1 cm wide; blade elliptic, narrowly obtuse, inside papillose, 0.25 cm wide. Column erect, 0.2 cm long, below the stigma convex, at the apex broadly notched; clinandrium concave; rostellum erect, triangular, bidentate, convex below, equalling the anther; stigma transverse; column-foot appressed to the ovary, straight, linear, at the apex extending a little beyond the point of attachment of the lip, including the column 0.78 cm long. Anther cucullate, cordate, obtuse, at the base 4-lobulate, 0.1 cm long. Ovary pedicellate, triangular, underneath somewhat concave and 2-grooved with a convex median band, furfuraceous-finely punctate, at the apex strongly oblique, 0.63 cm long. (After Smith, 1916)
Colours: Floral bracts brown. Flower white or greenish yellow, base of column green.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest; 1600 to 1900 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April, June, August.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 549-91M.JPG.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.