Glomera flaccida (Schltr) J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg 2(8):13(1912)
Glossorhyncha flaccida Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1:304 (1912)– Type: Schlechter 19415 (holotype, B lost; isotype K)
Growth form Epiphyte, pendulous, up to 50 cm high, flaccid. Rhizome 0.2 cm in diameter. Root filiform, flexible, elongated, glabrous. Stem branched, filiform, thinly cylindric, glabrous, slender, proliferously leafed, internodes 0.5-1.2 cm long. Leaf linear, coriaceous, 9-nerved, prominent, with brown dots; apex acute; base subpetiolate-narrowed; lamina 3-8 cm long, 0.23-0.28 cm wide; sheath tight, tubular, glabrous, finely nervosa-striate; apex toothed, with bristled margin, bristle 0.05-0.1 cm long, subulate. Inflorescences terminal, one-flowered, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe broadly elliptic, tubular, transparent, with brown dots, 1 cm long, 0.3 cm wide, 11-nerved, cucullate, apex apiculate; floral bracts transparent, thin, shorter than spathe. Flower upright, glabrous. Median sepal oblong, 0.55 cm long, 0.27 cm wide; apex obtuse. Lateral sepal oblong, 3-nerved at base, 5-nerved in higher parts, 0.52 cm long, 0.2 cm wide; apex subapiculate; base, oblique, somewhat dilated along the front margins. Petals oblong-spathulate, 3-nerved, 0.50 cm long, 0.20 cm wide; apex subtruncate-broadly obtuse; base narrowed. Lip elliptic, adnate to the base of the column, 0.35 cm long, 0.25 cm wide; epichile obtuse, with brown glands, 6-nerved; hypochile spurred; spur quadrate-oblongoid, 0.25-0.30 cm long, 0.2 cm wide, apex retuse-truncate, dorsally compressed. Column curved, without column foot, 0.15 cm long; clinandrium 3-lobed, lobes irregularly dentate-crenulate, lateral lobes short, median larger, subquadrate. Anther broadly cucullate, obtusely umbonate, in front ascending, obtuse, glabrous, 0.11 cm long, 0.15 cm wide; pollinia pear-shaped, 0.08-0.1 cm long. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, 3-ribbed, each rib double one, 0.73-0.8 cm long. Capsule not seen.
Distribution –Papua New Guinea.
Habitat and Ecology – Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 500-800 m. Flowering in May in the wild.
Notes - 1. Flowers probably white.
2. The epithet flaccida refers to the loose hanging habitus.
3. Specimen observed: L0061326.