Phreatia micrantha (A.Rich.) Lindl., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 3, Index (1858) vi
Type: Lesson s. n. , Vanikoro, 1828, (holo P; drawing P, isoW, photo).
Synonyms:
- Oberonia micrantha A.Rich. in D'Urv., Voy. Astrol., Bot. (1834) 7, pl. 3
- Rhynchophreatia micrantha (A.Rich.) N.Hallé, Fl. Nouv.-Caléd. Dép. 8 (1977) 341, pl. 140
- Rhipidorchis micrantha (A.Rich.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem., Orchadian 14 (8: Scientific Suppl.) (2004) xv
- Eria richardiana Rchb.f. in Seem., Fl. Vitiensis (1868) 300
- Phreatia richardiana (Rchb.f.) Kraenzl. in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV. 50. II. B. 23 (1911) 26
- ?Oberonia papuana F.M.Bailey, Bot. Bull. Dept. Agric. Queensland 14 (1896) 14
- Type: Dixson s.n. (New Guinea) [not in BRI (fide Ormerod)] - Thelasis samoensis Kraenzl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 25 (1898) 607
- Type: Reinecke 606 (Upolo, Lapua) (syn B, lost); 652 (Upolo, Lapua) (syn B, lost) - Phreatia samoensis (Kraenzl.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 3 (1907) 320
- Phreatia macrophylla Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 39 (1906) 78
- Type: Schlechter 15465 (holo B, lost; iso BM, K, L, LE, P, PR, S, W, Z) - Phreatia sarcothece Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 9 (1911) 438
- Type: Morrison s.n. (1898; Aneytyum Isl., New Hebrides) (holo B, lost) - Phreatia robusta R.S.Rogers, Trans. & Proc. Roy. Soc. South Australia 54 (1930) 39
- Type: Brisbane cult. (White) s.n. (I-1930, Cairns)= Beck s.n. (holo AD) - Phreatia clivicola W.Kittr., Bot. Mus. Leafl. 30 (1984, publ. 1985) 102 (as nom. nov.)
- Phreatia collina Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 919 (non J.J. Smith)
- Type: Schlechter 16438 (holo B, lost); para: Schlechter 16600; 17994; 18288; 19533; 20259 (B, lost; AMES) - Phreatia collina Schltr. var. linearis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 920
- Type: Schlechter 17456 (holo B, lost) - Phreatia moluccana J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 13 (1914) 35
- Type: J.J. Smith cult. s.n. (Hatoe Lalikoel); de Savorin Lohmann s.n. (1908, N. Halmaheira); Gjellerup 402 - Phreatia macrophylloides Kraenzl., Vierteljahrsschr. Naturf. Ges. Zñ74 (1929) 93
- Type: Daeniker 2483 (Loyaute Isl., Iufon) (holo Z; iso Z)
Epiphytic herb forming a single fan-like growth, up to 40 cm tall. Stem small, hidden by the overlapping leaf-sheaths, continuing to grow throughout the life of the plant, with 4-13 leaves. Leaves 6-35 by 1.1-2.5 cm, linear, obtuse, with an unequally bilobed apex. Inflorescences from the axils of the upper leaves, exceeding the leaves in length, erect or decurved; rachis usually longer than the peduncle, densely many-flowered. Flowers minute. Pedicel 0.15 cm long, ovary 0.2 cm long. Median sepal 0.15 by 0.1 cm, ovate, cucullate. Lateral sepals 0.15 by 0.15 cm, obliquely ovate; mentum short, rounded. Petals 0.1 by 0.07 cm, ovate. Lip shortly and broadly clawed, transversely broadly rhombic-elliptic, 0.12 by 0.12 cm, near the base with a shallow depression containing viscid fluid, on the claw with two small round glands. Column 0.07 cm long (excluding the rostellum), with a large, obtuse rostellum about as long as the column itself.
(Mainly after Lewis & Cribb, 1991, and O’Byrne, 1994)