Phreatia micrantha

Phreatia micrantha, commonly known as the native fan orchid,[2] is a plant in the orchid family and is an epiphyte or lithophyte with four to ten channelled leaves in a fan-like arrangement with their bases sheathing the stem. A large number of small white, cup-shaped flowers are arranged along a thin, wiry flowering stem. This orchid is native to areas between Papuasia and the western Pacific.

Native fan orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Monocots
Order:
Asparagales
Family:
Orchidaceae
Subfamily:
Epidendroideae
Genus:
Phreatia
Species:
P. micrantha
Binomial name
Phreatia micrantha
Synonyms[1]

Description

Phreatia micrantha is an epiphytic or lithophytic herb with a stem that gradually increases in length with between four and ten leaves in two ranks, the leaves 100–350 mm (3.9–14 in) long and 20–25 mm (0.79–0.98 in) wide in a fan-like arrangement sheathing the stem. A large number of white, cup-shaped, resupinate flowers 2–2.5 mm (0.079–0.098 in) long and wide are arranged along a thin, wiry flowering stem 200–450 mm (7.9–18 in) long. The sepals are about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) long and 1–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) wide the petals slightly shorter and narrower. The labellum is about 1.2 mm (0.047 in) long and wide and turned downwards. Flowering occurs between October and February.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

The native fan orchid was first formally described in 1834 by Achille Richard who gave it the name Oberonia micrantha and published the description in Voyage de la corvette l'Astrolabe: exécuté par ordre du roi, pendant les années 1826-1827-1828-1829.[5][6] In 1859 John Lindley changed the name to Phreatia micrantha.[7] The specific epithet (micrantha) is derived from the Ancient Greek words mikros meaning "small" or "little"[8]:488 and anthos meaning "flower".[8]:338

Distribution and habitat

Phreatia micrantha usually grows on rainforest trees sometimes on rocks. It is most common on mossy branches over streams. It is found on the Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Queensland (Australia), Fiji, Niue, New Caledonia, Samoa, Santa Cruz Island, Tonga, Vanuatu, the Wallis and Futuna Islands and the Mariana Islands. In Queensland it occurs between the Iron Range and Tully River on the Cape York Peninsula.[1][4][9]

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References
  1. "Phreatia micrantha". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 477. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. "Rhipidorchis micrantha". Trin keys: Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  4. "Phreatia micrantha". Orchids of New Guinea. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  5. "Oberonia micrantha". APNI. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  6. Richard, Achille (1834). Voyage de la corvette l'Astrolabe : Botanique Part 2. Paris. pp. 7–10. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  7. "Phreatia micrantha". APNI. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  8. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  9. "Phreatia micrantha". Flora and Fauna of New Caledonia. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
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