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Phreatia rhomboglossa

Phreatia rhomboglossa

Phreatia rhomboglossa Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 190

Type: Schlechter 14649 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, BO, BR, BRI, K, P)

Epiphytic, erect, simple, to 20 cm high; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Stem very short, almost lacking, entirely covered with the leaf-sheaths. Leaves linear or linear-lanceolate, apex shortly and unequally bilobulate, subcoriaceous, glabrous, 7-14 cm long, near the middle 0.9-1.6 cm wide, towards the base sometimes somewhat narrowed. Inflorescence erect, subflexuose, surpassing the leaves, apex laxly many-flowered, elongated, with a few distant small, acuminate peduncle-scales. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, shorter than the pedicellate, ovary. Flowers erect-patent. Sepals broadly ovate, obtuse, glabrous. Lateral sepals oblique, along the front margin a little dilated, 0.1 cm long. Petals oblong-subrhombic, obtuse, somewhat oblique, somewhat smaller than the sepals. Lip broadly rhombic, obtuse, almost as long as the sepals, glabrous. Column short, foot short; clinandrium dorsally widened, triangular, lobed. Anther subreniform, obtuse; pollinia 8, pear-shaped; stipe linear, as long as the pollinia. Ovary pedicellate, glabrous, clavate, 0.2 cm long.
(After Schlechter, 1905)



Flower pure white.

Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 600 to 850 m.

Malesia (New Guinea).

Papua New Guinea. See map

distribution map

Intermediate growing epiphyte.

July, November.

  • Schlechter, R., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 919
  • Schlechter, R., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1928) t. 322, fig. 1238
  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Podochileae
  • Subtribe Thelasiinae
  • Genus Phreatia
  • Section Rhizophyllum
  • Species Phreatia rhomboglossa

Phreatia rhomboglossa Schltr. is possibly conspecific with Phreatia micrantha (A.Rich.) Lindl.


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Phreatia rhomboglossa

Phreatia rhomboglossa Schltr., drawing R. Schlechter in Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1928) t. 322, fig. 1238

Phreatia rhomboglossa

Phreatia rhomboglossa Schltr., floral analysis, drawing J.J. Smith, from Schlechter 14649

Phreatia rhomboglossa

Phreatia rhomboglossa Schltr., herbarium sheet, Schlechter 14649 (isotype specimen BO)

Phreatia rhomboglossa

Phreatia rhomboglossa Schltr., herbarium sheet, Schlechter 14649 (isotype specimen K), photo copyright the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew