Prev Taxon: Genus Phreatia section Rhizophyllum
Current Genus: Genus Phreatia section Saccophreatia
Next Taxon: Genus Pilophyllum
Phreatia tafana
Phreatia tafana Ormerod,Malesian Orchid J. 13 (2014) 64, fig. 16.
Type: , L.J. Brass 5066 (holo AMES, iso BRI, NY).
Synonyms:
Epiphytic herb. Roots terete, 0.05–0.15 cm thick. Pseudobulbs narrowly conical-subterete, usually 2-foliate, approximate, to 1.5 by 0.25 cm. Leaves thinly coriaceous, linear to narrowly ligulate-oblanceolate, 6.5–14.2 by 0.45–0.7 cm including the petiole-like base to 0.5 cm long; apex minutely obliquely subacutely bilobulate. Inflorescence basal, 19.6–24.3 cm long; peduncle laxly 5–11-sheathed, 13–16.3 cm long; sheaths 0.5–1.35 cm long; rachis densely to rather densely-flowered, 6.6–8 cm long; floral bracts lanceolate, acute, to 0.7 cm long. Pedicel and ovary clavate, c. 0.6 cm long. Median sepal reflexed, ovate-elliptic, 0.28 by 0.18 cm; apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, 0.28–0.3 by 027 cm; apex subacute. Petals obliquely elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 0.23 by 0.13 cm; apex obtuse. Lip broadly sagittate, 0.25 by 0.25 cm (including the 0.1 cm long claw); claw solid semi-cylindrical, 0.1 cm long; blade subquadrate, 0.15 by 0.25 cm, with truncate apex; 3-nerved. Column short, stout, c. 0.09 cm long; column foot appressed to ovary, c. 0.1 cm long.
(After Ormerod, 2014)
Flowers white.
Common epiphyte in ridge forest. Altitude 2400 m.
Malesia (New Guinea), endemic.
Papua New Guinea (Central Prov.), see map
Cool growing epiphyte.
September.
- Family Orchidaceae
- Subfamily Epidendroideae
- Tribe Podochileae
- Subtribe Thelasiinae
- Genus Phreatia
- Section Phreatia
- Species Phreatia Phreatia tafana
Phreatia tafana has similar flowers as P. bulbophylloides Schltr. (section Phreatia) but has approximate pseudobulbs (not 0.5–1 cm apart), longer leaves (6.5–14.2 versus 3–5 cm), much larger flowers (sepals 0.28–0.3 versus 0.125 cm) and a subquadrate midlobe of the lip(versus transversely reniform).
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Phreatia tafana
Phreatia tafana Ormerod, drawing by Paul Ormerod in Malesian Orchid J. 13 (2014) 64, fig. 16, based on the holotype, L.J. Brass 5066 (holo AMES, iso BRI, NY).