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Phreatia semiorbicularis var. angiensis

Phreatia semiorbicularis var. angiensis

Phreatia semiorbicularis J.J.Sm. var. angiensis J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 12, 4 (1916) 440

Type: Gjellerup 1081 (holo BO; iso L)

Stems closely spaced, elongated, patent, becoming pendulous with incurved apex, not or sparsely branched, angular-subterete, to 45 cm long, leafy at the apex, in the basal part defoliated; internodes 0.55-1.25 cm long, including the sheaths and roots 0.34-0.55 cm diam. Roots appressed to the stem, covered with the sheaths. Leaves c. 6-9, articulated with the sheath, erect-patent, recurved, linear, 6.25-8.5 by 0.55-0.68 cm, firmly papyraceous, especially in the apical part with somewhat erose margins, obtuse, unequally minutely 2-lobulate, with a small more or less distinct obtuse mucro between the lobules, on either side of the mid-vein convex above, mid-rib grooved above, keeled below; sheaths much longer than the internodes, tubular, at the apex in front notched and crisped, narrowly keeled, transversely rugulose. Inflorescences arising somewhat above the leaf-axil, longer than the leaves, densely many-flowered; peduncle covered by the leaf-sheaths, 2.1-3 cm long; peduncle-scales several, small, appressed, tubular, keeled, membranous, the upper ones bract-like; rachis thin, strongly grooved, glabrous, 8.5-11 cm long. Floral bracts appressed to the ovary, oblong, gradually slightly acuminate, concave, 1-nerved, membranous, to 0.3 cm long. Flowers inserted on decurrent swellings, minute, widely opening, 0.23 cm wide. Median sepal ovate-triangular, at the apex recurved, acuminate, acute, convex, 1-nerved, 0.14 by 0.08 cm. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-triangular, subulate-acuminate, dorsally especially towards the apex keeled, 1-nerved, almost 0.14 cm long, 0.1 cm wide. Petals slightly falcate-oblong, at the apex strongly recurved, acute, convex, 1-nerved, 0.13 by 0.04 cm. Lip decurved, at the apex recurved, very shortly clawed, scarcely more than 0.1 cm long, 0.13 cm wide, convex with a longitudinal groove, glabrous, blade rather large, trapezium-shaped, at the base on either side in dilated into a slightly backwards pointing obliquely quadrangular, obtuse lobule, in front narrowed, at the apex broadly rounded-truncate with a rather large recurved, triangular, obtuse, channelled apicule, at the base with two crater-shaped gland-like calli. Column very short, dorsally convex with a longitudinal groove; clinandrium deeply concave, filament porrect, rather broad, obtuse; rostellum short, wide; stigma transverse; column-foot very short. Anther transversely reniform-quadrangular, at the base 4-lobulate, at the apex subtruncate, 0.04 cm wide. Ovary pedicellate, 6-grooved, finely warty, 0.15 cm long.
(after Smith, 1916)


Flower greenish white.

Epiphyte in montane forest; 1600 to 2000 m.

Malesia (New Guinea).

Papua (Indonesia). See map

distribution map

Cool growing epiphyte.

April, October.

  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Podochileae
  • Subtribe Thelasiinae
  • Genus Phreatia
  • Section Caulophreatia
  • Species Phreatia semiorbicularis
  • Variety Phreatia semiorbicularis angiensis

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Phreatia semiorbicularis var. angiensis

Phreatia semiorbicularis J.J.Sm. var. angiensis J.J.Sm., floral analysis, drawing J.J. Smith, from Gjellerup 1081

Phreatia semiorbicularis var. angiensis

Phreatia semiorbicularis J.J.Sm. var. angiensis J.J.Sm., lip, drawing J.J. Smith, from Stein 514

Phreatia semiorbicularis var. angiensis

Phreatia semiorbicularis J.J.Sm. var. angiensis J.J.Sm., herbarium sheet, Gjellerup 1081 (isotype specimen L)