Phreatia listeri, commonly known as the Christmas Island caterpillar orchid,[2] is a plant in the orchidfamily and is an epiphyte with four to six flat, blunt leaves in a fan-like arrangement. A large number of tiny, greenish white flowers are arranged along a thin flowering stem. It is endemictoChristmas Island.
Phreatia listeri is a clump-forming epiphytic herb with a short stem, thin roots and between four and six flat, blunt, dark green leaves 40–110 mm (1.6–4.3 in) long and about 2–5 mm (0.079–0.20 in) wide in a fan-like arrangement. A large number of greenish white non-resupinate flowers 1–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) long and wide are arranged along a thin flowering stem 40–80 mm (1.6–3.1 in) long. The sepals and petals are about 0.8 mm (0.031 in) long and do not spread widely. The labellum is about 1 mm (0.039 in) long and wide. Flowering occurs between September and October.[2]
^ abcJones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 475. ISBN1877069124.
