Phreatia semiorbicularis J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 39 (1910) 19
Type: Römer, von 713 (holo BO)
Stem elongated, subterete, 0.25 cm diam. Leaves twisted at the base, sublinear, 3.6-3.9 by 0.5-0.55 cm, somewhat obliquely obtuse, thickly apiculate, towards the apex with minutely and slightly erose margins, above obtusely concave with convex sides, underneath near the apex keeled; leaf-sheaths much exceeding the internodes, in the basal part tubular, longitudinally ribbed, transversely warty-rugulose, with undulate margins. Inflorescences axillary, elongated, secund, laxly many-flowered; peduncle strongly flattened, 6 cm long, 0.15 cm wide, peduncle-scales few, tubular, flattened, acute, keeled, rachis angular-ribbed, glabrous, 9 cm long. Floral bracts oblong-triangular, acuminate, acute, concave, to 0.3 cm long, the upper ones smaller. Flowers very small, widely opening, 0.27 cm wide, 0.33 cm long. Median sepal ovate, obtuse, convex, 1-nerved, 0.15 by 0.13 cm. Lateral sepals somewhat obliquely ovate, subobtuse, dorsally slightly keeled, 1-nerved, 0.15 by 0.13 cm. Petals elliptic-ovate, subapiculate-obtuse, 1-nerved, 0.13 by 0.07 cm. Lip very shortly clawed, attached below the apex of the column-foot, at the base concave and with two spot-like, suborbicular warts that are depressed in the middle, 3-nerved, in total 0.13 cm long, claw 0.03 by 0.07 cm, blade semiorbicular, undulate, basal corners acute or obtuse, 0.15 cm wide. Column very short, dorsally convex, 0.04 cm long; stigma broad, transverse; column-foot very short, broad, below the stigma convex-swollen. Anther reniform, 0.06 cm wide; pollinia 8, subglobose. Ovary 6-grooved, finely warty, including the very short pedicel 0.28 cm long. (After Smith, 1911)
Colours: Not recorded.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest; 2000 to 2500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February, March, August, October.
Distribution: Malesia (Moluccas, New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-234M.JPG.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte, requires shaded position.