Phreatia iridifolia

Phreatia iridifolia Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 930

Type: Schlechter 16355 (holo B, lost)

Epiphytic, erect, 15-22 cm high; roots filiform, glabrous. Stem very short, c. 6-leaved. Leaves erect-patent, bilaterally flattened, ligulate, subacute, fleshy, 6-10 cm long, near the middle 0.8-1.2 cm wide. Inflorescence slender, rather laxly many-flowered, elongated, almost twice as long as the leaves; peduncle slender, with a few small scales, almost as long as the leaves. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, as long as the pedicellate ovary. Flowers minute, glabrous. Sepals ovate, subobtuse, 0.13 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, towards the base in front dilated. Petals obliquely oblong, obtuse, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip as long as the sepals; claw elliptic; blade broadly elliptic, obtusely apiculate, 0.09 cm long, near the base 0.05 cm wide. Column short; rostellum slightly bidentate, semiorbicular, a little shorter than the clinandrium. Anther reniform-cucullate, subacute; pollinia obliquely subglobose; stipe narrowly linear, as long as the pollinia; viscidium minute. Ovary pedicellate, clavate, glabrous, 0.3 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)

Colours: Flowers white.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 26 to 900 m.

Flowering time in the wild: April, May, June, August.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-98M.JPG.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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