Glomera bambusiformis Schltr.

Glomera bambusiformis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1:288 (1912) –Type: Schlechter 18207 (holotype B, lost; isotype BO, K, L)

 

Growth form Epiphyte, slender, patent, up to 65 cm high. Rhizome 1-2 mm in diameter. Roots filiform, long, flexible, glabrous. Stem eventually becoming rigid, primary ones compressed, proliferously leafed, completely covered by leaf sheaths, internodes 1.4-2 cm long. Leaf  linear-lanceolate, erect-patent, glabrous, thin-textured; apex subacute; base rounded; lamina 5-9 cm long, 0.4-0.7 cm wide; sheath tight, tubular, 2-3 cm long, sparsely warty; apex with tooth, with glabrous margin. Inflorescences terminal, many-flowered, nodding, sub-globose, 2-2.5 cm in diameter, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe broad, apex apiculate; floral bracts thin, transparent. Flowers upright, glabrous. Median sepal oblong, apex obtuse, 0.55 cm long, 0.275 cm wide. Lateral sepals oblique, connate up to the apical third, apex subacute to obtuse, 0.55 cm long, 0.196 cm wide; mentum short, broadly obtuse. Petal obliquely elliptic, obtuse, dilated in the middle, 0.52 cm long, 0.288 cm wide. Lip subquadrate, 0.2 cm long, 0.26 cm wide; epichile broadly obtuse; hypochile spurred; spur broadly oblongoid, apex obtuse, 0.23 cm long, 0.2 cm wide. Column 0.157 cm long; clinandrium  3-lobulate, lobules irregularly crenulate; stelidia not seen. Anther broadly cucullate, obtusely umbonate, in front retuse, 0.2 cm long, 0.2 cm wide; rostellum not seen; stigma not seen; pollinia 4, pear-shaped, 0.14 cm long, 0.06 cm wide; viscidium not seen. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, 0.4 cm long. Capsule not seen.

Distribution –Papua New Guinea.

Habitat and Ecology - Epiphyte in montane forest of Kaiser-Wilhelmsland. Altitude 1100-2000 m. Flowering in September and October in the wild.

Notes -  1. Flowers white with vermillion lip; anther brown with white humps.

2. The epithet  bambusiformis refers to the habitus of the species that is similar with the habitus of bamboo  (bambusi- means bamboo and –formis means shaped in Latin).

3. Specimen observed: Schlechter 18207.

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