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.

[2] Phreatia listeri was first formally described in 1890 by Robert Allen Rolfe who published the description in the Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany.

[3][4] The specific epithet (listeri) honours Joseph Jackson Lister who, with John Maclear and the officers of H.M.S.

[4]: 351 [5][6] Found only on Christmas Island, the orchid is common on rainforest trees.