Phreatia pisifera J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12 (1913) 26
Type: Janowsky 79 (holo BO)
Rhizome creeping, rooting, branched, terete, covered with sheaths, 0.08 cm diam. Pseudobulbs 0.3-0.8 cm apart, very small, obliquely depressed-conical, 0.15-0.28 cm high, 0.3-0.4 cm diam., 1-leaved, at the base with a few cataphylls, the upper one obtuse, conical-apiculate, obtusely keeled, to 0.7-0.9 cm long. Leaf lanceolate-linear, somewhat fleshy, 3.5-5.5 by 0.47-0.63 cm, unequally obtusely bidentate with a longer conical apicule, at the base contracted and conduplicate, above on either side of the mid-vein convex, below obtusely convex; sheath resembling a petiole, laterally flattened, longitudinally grooved, 0.3-0.5 cm long. Inflorescences at the base of the pseudobulbs, surpassing the leaves, laxly many-flowered; peduncle filiform, 3-6 cm long; peduncle-scales small, c. 5, tubular, acute; rachis thin, 1.3-3.5 cm long. Floral bracts widely patent or recurved above the base, 5-angled, gradually narrowed, acute, concave, with irregular margins, 1-nerved, 0.18 cm long. Flowers small. Median sepal semi-elliptic-triangular, acute, convex, 1-nerved, 0.14 cm long, slightly more than 0.1 cm wide. Lateral sepals strongly obliquely ovate-triangular, 1-nerved, 0.13 by 0.16 cm, shortly obtusely or subacutely acuminate, concave, mid-rib dorsally slightly prominent; mentum short, making an acute angle with the ovary, broadly rounded, 0.05 cm long. Petals obliquely triangular, slightly acuminate, at the base subtruncate, only attached in the middle, concave, 1-nerved, 0.1 by 0.08 cm. Lip erect, shorter than the column, concave, clawed, 3-nerved; claw towards the base strongly dilated and rounded on either side, above the base with two gland-like calli, 0.08 cm long, at the base 0.08 cm wide, below the blade almost 0.05 cm wide; blade conduplicate-concave, abruptly dilated, transversely rhombic-triangular, with shortly triangular-acuminate apex, papillose, 0.06 by 0.13 cm. Column very short, dorsally convex, 0.08 cm long; clinandrium deeply concave, with slightly flexuose margins, on either side of the stigma with a small tooth; stigma transverse; rostellum porrect, equalling the anther, bifid; column-foot making an acute angle with the ovary, at the apex free and obtusely incurved, 0.06 cm long. Anther cucullate, cordate, at the apex contracted, obtuse, at the base sunken in the clinandrium, 0.06 cm long; pollinia orbicular to orbicular-pear-shaped. Ovary thick, 6-angular, including the thinner pedicel clavate, 0.27 cm long, pedicel 0.13 cm long. (After Smith, 1916)
Colours: Flower white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 200 to 500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February, June, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 549-189M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.