Phreatia, commonly known as lace orchids,[2] is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae, native to regions bordering the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Orchids in the genus Phratia are epiphytic herbs similar to those in the genus Thelasis and sometimes have pseudobulbs with one or two leaves or otherwise lack pseudobulbs and have up to twelve leaves.
The lateral sepals form a small ledge or "mentum" with the base of the column.
[2][3][4][5] The genus Phreatia was first formally described in 1830 by John Lindley and the description was published in his book The Genera and Species of Orchidaceous Plants.
[1][6][7] The name Phreatia is derived from the Ancient Greek word phreatos meaning "a well" or "reservoir".