Phreatia stenophylla Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 916
Type: Schlechter 16768 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, BO, L); Paratypes: Schlechter 17953 (B, lost; BO); 19457 (B, lost)
Epiphytic, very small, erect, 4-10 cm high; roots filiform, glabrous. Stem very short, hidden by the leaf-sheaths, 4-8-leaved. Leaves erect or erect-patent, falcate-linear, subacute, towards the base gradually weakly petiolate-narrowed. 2.5-8 cm long, at or above the middle 0.2-0.25 cm wide; sheaths with hyaline margins, striate, to 0.6 cm long. Inflorescence erect, carrying flowers to near the base, rather densely many-flowered, 2-4 cm long. Floral bracts patent, lanceolate, acuminate, equalling or a little longer than the ovary. Flowers minute, glabrous, not resupinate. Sepals ovate, obtuse, 0.08 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals obliquely ovate, obtuse, c. 0.6 cm long. Lip with a short subquadrangular claw, broadly suborbicular-rhombic, obtusely and minutely apiculate, about as long as the sepals, above the middle 0.05 cm wide. Column very short, glabrous; rostellum short, bidentate; clinandrium obtuse, slightly surpassing the rostellum. Anther reniform-cucullate, umbonate; pollinia obliquely obovoid; stipe narrowly linear, as long as the pollinia; viscidium minute. Ovary shortly pedicellate, clavate, glabrous, 0.13 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers whitish green.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 125 to 600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: May, July, November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 549-248M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.