Phreatia platychila (Kraenzl.) Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 190
Basionym: Thelasis platychila
Stems rather short, 1-1.5 cm long, tufted, 4- to 5-leaved. Leaves distichous, at the base narrowly linear, gradually dilated, lanceolate, apex bilobulate, with obtuse lobules, subfalcate, incurved, folded at the base, with short sheath, 5-9 by 1-1.5 cm. Inflorescences few, from the leaf axil, filiform, pendulous(?), laxly many-flowered, 6-10 cm long; rachis very thin. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, concave, curved, shorter than the pedicellate ovary. Median sepal ovate-oblong, obtuse. Lateral sepals much larger, ovate-triangular, subobtuse, concave, in front at the base slightly dilated; mentum hardly developed. Petals much smaller than the sepals, oblong. Lip long clawed; claw curved, descending, channelled, linear; blade subreniform, rounded at the apex, at the base retuse, laterally dilated with an acute angle. Column large for the flower, very thick; stigma almost cushion-like with somewhat prominent lower margin; rostellum terminal, minutely bidentate; anther dorsal, flat, membranous. (After Kraenzlin, 1911)
Colours: Flower white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 50 to 400 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, April, July.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-192M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.