Species Information - Phreatia bracteata

Phreatia bracteata Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 187

Type: Schlechter 14040 (holo B, lost)

Synonyms:

Epiphytic, erect, c. 20 cm high; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Stem almost lacking, with 3-5 leaves, entirely covered with the leaf-sheaths. Leaves erect-patent, linear, obtuse, glabrous, coriaceous, 8-10 by 0.5-0.7 cm; leaf-sheaths 2-2.5 cm long. Peduncle erect, somewhat flexuose, slender, with c. 7 distant, long-sheathing peduncle-scales, distinctly longer than the leaves; rachis rather densely many-flowered, almost secund, often curved. Floral bracts linear-lanceolate, acuminate, overtopping the flowers. Flowers erect-patent. Median sepal recurved, lanceolate, obtuse, 0.25 cm long. Lateral sepals porrect, oblique, strongly dilated along the front margin, broadly ovate, obtuse, almost as long as the median sepal, at the base 0.25 cm wide. Petals obliquely oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, 0.2 cm long. Lip at the base shortly clawed, abruptly and strongly dilated, weakly 3-lobed, in total 0.25 cm long, at the base of the blade (i.e. between the lateral lobes) 0.25 cm wide; lateral lobes divergent, tooth-like, acuminate, mid-lobe broadly ovate, obtuse, with undulate margins towards the apex. Column very short, rostellum longer, bidentate. Anther cordate, in front rather obtusely acuminate; pollinia 8, pyriform; stipe linear, as long as the pollinia. Ovary pedicellate, clavate, glabrous, c. 0.4 cm long.
(After Schlechter, 1905)

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