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Phreatia grandiflora

Phreatia grandiflora

Phreatia grandiflora J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12 (1913) 26

Type: Gjellerup 1036 (holo BO; iso L) [in Nova Guinea as Gjellerup 1030, on label and in protologue as 1036]

Rhizome creeping, elongated, terete, rooting, 0.26 cm diam., initially covered with sheaths. Pseudobulbs 2-4.5 cm apart, obliquely depressed-conical, 0.45 cm high, 0.5 cm diam., 1-leaved, initially enveloped in cataphylls. Leaf articulated, erect, spathulate-oblanceolate, obtuse, slightly unequally rounded-bilobulate with a short conical apicule, gradually long petiolate-narrowed, in the basal part conduplicate, above on either side of the grooved mid-vein convex and transversely rugulose, below obtusely keeled and sparsely furfuraceous-punctate, 4-7.75 by 0.8-1 cm; petiole laterally flattened with a longitudinal groove, 1.2-1.4 cm long; leaf sheath resembling a petiole, laterally flattened, 1.2-1.4 cm long. Inflorescences arising from the base of the pseudobulbs, erect, elongated, laxly 6-11-flowered; peduncle 6-15 cm long; peduncle-scales small, 6-9, tubular, acute, keeled, to 1.2 cm long; rachis angular, furfuraceous, 1.5-4 cm long. Floral bracts appressed to and surpassing the ovary, ovate, acute, concave, 1-nerved, to 0.8 by 0.55 cm. Flowers patent, opening well, 0.63 cm wide, almost 1 cm long. Sepals outside sparsely furfuraceous-punctate. Median sepal erect, oblong, obtuse, concave, 1-nerved, somewhat fleshy, almost 0.4 cm long, 0.2 cm wide. Lateral sepals with a large oblong-obovate, concave lobe decurrent on the column-foot, loosely clasping the claw of the lip, front margins parallel but not cohering, obliquely ovate-triangular, acute, concave, 1-nerved, 0.43 by 0.27 cm, at the base 0.6 cm wide; mentum large, appressed to the ovary, straight, oblong, 2-lobed, 0.45 cm long. Petals patent, divergent, oblong, obtuse, slightly concave, 1-nerved, slightly over 0.3 cm long, 0.14 cm wide. Lip entire, spathulate, when flattened 0.65 cm long, parallel with the column-foot, erect, at the apex obtusely recurved, concave, 1-nerved, at the base on either side with a short additional nerve that ends in an oblong gland-like callus; claw oblong, in the middle slightly dilated, outside minutely umbonate, slightly more than 0.2 cm long, 0.1 cm wide; blade elliptic, narrowly obtuse, inside papillose, 0.25 cm wide. Column erect, 0.2 cm long, below the stigma convex, at the apex broadly notched; clinandrium concave; rostellum erect, triangular, bidentate, convex below, equalling the anther; stigma transverse; column-foot appressed to the ovary, straight, linear, at the apex extending a little beyond the point of attachment of the lip, including the column 0.78 cm long. Anther cucullate, cordate, obtuse, at the base 4-lobulate, 0.1 cm long. Ovary pedicellate, triangular, underneath somewhat concave and 2-grooved with a convex median band, furfuraceous-finely punctate, at the apex strongly oblique, 0.63 cm long.
(After Smith, 1916)


Floral bracts brown. Flower white or greenish yellow, base of column green.

Epiphyte in montane forest; 1600 to 1900 m.

Malesia (New Guinea).

Papua (Indonesia). See map

distribution map

Cool growing epiphyte.

April, June, August.

  • Smith, J.J., Nova Guinea 12, 4 (1916) 436, t. 167, fig. 312
  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Podochileae
  • Subtribe Thelasiinae
  • Genus Phreatia
  • Section Bulbophreatia
  • Species Phreatia grandiflora

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Phreatia grandiflora

Phreatia grandiflora J.J.Sm., floral analysis, drawing J.J. Smith, from Gjellerup 1036

Phreatia grandiflora

Phreatia grandiflora J.J.Sm., habit, drawing Natadipoera, from Gjellerup 1036

Phreatia grandiflora

Phreatia grandiflora J.J.Sm., herbarium sheet, Gjellerup 1036 (isotype specimen L)