Phreatia plagiopetala Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 947
Type: Schlechter 19902 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, erect, c. 30 cm high. Rhizome very short; roots filiform, glabrous. Pseudobulbs crowded, ovoid-cylindrical, 1-leaved, c. 2 cm high, below the middle c. 0.8 cm diam. Leaf erect, elliptic-ligulate, apex unequally and obtusely bilobulate, 22-28 cm long, above the middle 2-3.2 cm wide. Inflorescence about as long as the leaves, very densely many-flowered, cylindrical; peduncle with several scales, c. 15 cm long. Floral bracts elliptic, acuminate, as long as the flowers. Flowers not resupinate. Sepals very broadly ovate, shortly acuminate, glabrous, 0.25 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, towards the base along the front margin conspicuously dilated. Petals strongly oblique, very broadly ovate, shortly acuminate, distinctly shorter than the sepals. Lip as long as the sepals, towards the base minutely papillose, in the basal half ligulate-clawed; blade quadrangular, apiculate; spur oblongoid, obtuse, 4-5 times shorter than the blade. Column short; clinandrium 3-lobed; overtopping the long rostellum. Anther reniform-cucullate, apiculate; pollinia obliquely obovoid; stipe narrowly linear, half as long as the pollinia; viscidium very small. Ovary subsessile, cylindrical, 0.3 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 500 to 600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April, June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-190M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.