Glomera polychaete (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg 2(8):12 (1912)
Glossorhyncha polychaete Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1:300 (1912)-Type: Schlechter 19551 (holotype, B lost)
Growth form Epiphyte, erect, somewhat rigid, 15-20 cm high. Rhizome short, sometimes decumbent. Roots long, filiform, flexible, glabrous. Stem more or less branched, thinly cylindrical, proliferously leafed, completely covered by leaf sheaths. Leaf linear or ligulate-linear, glabrous, thickly carnose; apex oblique, subacute; base sub petiolate-narrowed; lamina 2.5-5 cm long, 0.2-0.35 cm wide; sheath tight, with thickened warty nerves; apex with tooth, with bristled margin. Inflorescences terminal, one-flowered, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe broadly elliptic, acuminate, outside muricate-papillose, clasping, 0.6 cm long, 0.48 cm wide; floral bracts transparent, thin, shorter than ovary. Flowers upright, glabrous. Median sepal oblong, apiculate, 0.85 cm long, 0.40 cm wide. Lateral sepals oblique, base dilated along the front margins, decurrent, 0.8 cm long, 0.30 cm wide. Petal obliquely oblong-spathulate, obtuse, 0.87 cm long, 0.30 cm wide. Lip broadly obovate, 0.45 cm long, 0.35 cm wide; epichile abruptly submucronulate-apiculate; hypochile spurred; spur oblongoid-quadrate, broadly obtuse, 0.25 cm long, 0.2 cm wide. Column 0.26 cm long, glabrous; clinandrium 3-lobed, lateral lobes short, median lobe larger, triangular, irregularly crenulate; stelidia not seen. Anther not seen; pollinia not seen; rostellum not seen; stigma not seen; viscidium not seen. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, 0.6 cm long. Capsule not seen.
Distribution –Papua New Guinea.
Habitat and Ecology - Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 1300 m. Flowering in May in the wild.
Notes - 1. Flowers white with lip with deep black tip.
2. The epithet polychaete refers to the bristled margin of the leaf sheaths (poly- means many and -chaete means bristles in Latin).
3. Specimen observed: Schlechter 19551.