Phreatia linearifolia

Phreatia linearifolia Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 188

Type: Schlechter 14457 (holo B, lost; iso K)

Epiphytic, erect, unbranched, to 20 cm high; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Stem very short, almost lacking, c. 6-leaved, entirely covered with the leaf-sheaths. Leaves distichous, erect-patent, linear, apex unequally bilobulate, glabrous, chartaceous, 10-17 cm long, 0.4-0.7 cm wide. Inflorescence erect or suberect, slender, as long as the leaves or slightly longer, with 3-5 distant, acuminate, clasping, peduncle-scales; rachis laxly many-flowered, elongated, to 6 cm long. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, half as long as the pedicellate ovary. Flowers erect-patent or patent. Sepals broadly ovate, obtuse, glabrous, almost 0.1 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, dilated along the front margin. Petals ovate, obtuse, glabrous, somewhat smaller than the sepals, at the base subangular. Lip at the base broadly cuneate, angular, dilated, broadly ovate, obtuse, glabrous, almost as long as the sepals. Column short, foot short; clinandrium dorsally a little widened; rostellum short. Anther suborbicular-cucullate, in front subretuse; pollinia 8, obliquely pear-shaped; stipe linear, less than half as long as the pollinia. Ovary pedicellate, clavate, glabrous, c. 0.2 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1905)

Colours: Flower pure white.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1100 m.

Flowering time in the wild: April.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-122M.JPG.

Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.

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