Glomera acutiflora (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg 2(8): 12 (1912)
Glossorhyncha acutiflora Schltr., Feddes Repert Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih 1 (1914) 300 – Type : Schlechter 17713 (holotype, L), Papua New Guinea
Growth form Epiphyte, erect or suberect, up to 30 cm high. Rhizome 2-3 mm in diameter. Root filiform, up to 40 mm long, flexible, glabrous. Stem branched, somewhat compressed, proliferously leafed, internodes 4-6 mm long. Leaf lanceolate-linear, thin; apex obtuse; base wedge-shaped; lamina 2-3.7 cm long, 2.5-3 mm wide, brown spots on the upper side; sheath tight, slightly warty towards the apex; apex toothed, with bristled margin, bristle 3-3.3 mm long. Inflorescences one-flowered, up to 1.4 cm long, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe elliptic, transparent, glabrous, grooved on the outside, 8 mm long, 5.5 mm wide, 9-nerved, apex subapiculate; floral bracts ovate, thin, transparent, with brown dots, 5.5-8.5 mm long, 2.5-6.2 mm wide, apex subapiculate. Flower upright. Median sepal broadly oblong to ovate, 3.1- 9 mm long, 2-3.4 mm wide, 7-nerved; apex acute, base decurrent. Lateral sepal broadly oblong, adnate to the column, 5-10 mm long, 2.5-3.2 mm wide; apex acute, 5-nerved. Petal oblong, 5-9 mm long, 2.2-3.5 mm wide; apex obtuse; base slightly oblique. Lip oblong to broadly elliptic, adnate to the column, 3.5 mm long, 2.5 mm wide; epichile lobe obtuse, ornamented with brown glandular cells; hypochile incurved, spurred; spur quadrate, apex 2-lobe, dorsally depressed, outside slightly concave, 2.5-6 mm long, 2 mm wide. Column 1.8-2.5 mm long, with column foot; clinandrium semiorbicular, unequally crenulate-dentate; stelidia linear, 2 mm long. Anther broadly cucullate, with obtuse projection, in front ascending, broadly obtuse, ca 1.7 mm long, 1 mm wide; pollinia ca. 1.2 mm long; 0.7 mm wide; viscidium present. Ovary cylindric, 0.5-0.64 cm long, glabrous. Capsule not seen.
Distribution - Papua New Guinea.
Habitat and Ecology - Epiphyte in montane forest on Mt. Kani (Tapini), Mt Bapaoto (Tapini), Mt Alio (Woitape). Altitude 700-2100 m. Flowering in May in the wild and in spring and summer in the greenhouse in Leiden.
Notes - 1. The species is characterised by its long and acute leaves, and petals with a thicker consistency as compared with the sepals.
2. Flowers white with blackish ornamentation on the tip of the lip.
3. The epithet acutiflora refers to the pointed tip of the sepals.
4. Specimen observed L 0061314 (Type); L 1521085 (HBL 20030246); L 1521086 (HBL 20030686)