Phreatia semiorbicularis J.J.Sm. var. angiensis J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 12, 4 (1916) 440
Type: Gjellerup 1081 (holo BO; iso L)
Stems closely spaced, elongated, patent, becoming pendulous with incurved apex, not or sparsely branched, angular-subterete, to 45 cm long, leafy at the apex, in the basal part defoliated; internodes 0.55-1.25 cm long, including the sheaths and roots 0.34-0.55 cm diam. Roots appressed to the stem, covered with the sheaths. Leaves c. 6-9, articulated with the sheath, erect-patent, recurved, linear, 6.25-8.5 by 0.55-0.68 cm, firmly papyraceous, especially in the apical part with somewhat erose margins, obtuse, unequally minutely 2-lobulate, with a small more or less distinct obtuse mucro between the lobules, on either side of the mid-vein convex above, mid-rib grooved above, keeled below; sheaths much longer than the internodes, tubular, at the apex in front notched and crisped, narrowly keeled, transversely rugulose. Inflorescences arising somewhat above the leaf-axil, longer than the leaves, densely many-flowered; peduncle covered by the leaf-sheaths, 2.1-3 cm long; peduncle-scales several, small, appressed, tubular, keeled, membranous, the upper ones bract-like; rachis thin, strongly grooved, glabrous, 8.5-11 cm long. Floral bracts appressed to the ovary, oblong, gradually slightly acuminate, concave, 1-nerved, membranous, to 0.3 cm long. Flowers inserted on decurrent swellings, minute, widely opening, 0.23 cm wide. Median sepal ovate-triangular, at the apex recurved, acuminate, acute, convex, 1-nerved, 0.14 by 0.08 cm. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-triangular, subulate-acuminate, dorsally especially towards the apex keeled, 1-nerved, almost 0.14 cm long, 0.1 cm wide. Petals slightly falcate-oblong, at the apex strongly recurved, acute, convex, 1-nerved, 0.13 by 0.04 cm. Lip decurved, at the apex recurved, very shortly clawed, scarcely more than 0.1 cm long, 0.13 cm wide, convex with a longitudinal groove, glabrous, blade rather large, trapezium-shaped, at the base on either side in dilated into a slightly backwards pointing obliquely quadrangular, obtuse lobule, in front narrowed, at the apex broadly rounded-truncate with a rather large recurved, triangular, obtuse, channelled apicule, at the base with two crater-shaped gland-like calli. Column very short, dorsally convex with a longitudinal groove; clinandrium deeply concave, filament porrect, rather broad, obtuse; rostellum short, wide; stigma transverse; column-foot very short. Anther transversely reniform-quadrangular, at the base 4-lobulate, at the apex subtruncate, 0.04 cm wide. Ovary pedicellate, 6-grooved, finely warty, 0.15 cm long.
Colours: Flower greenish white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest; 1600 to 2000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April, October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 549-236M.JPG.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.