Glomera affinis J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg 2(8):14 (1912)
Glossorhyncha torricellensis Schltr. in K. Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee 132 (1905) –Type: Schlechter 14558 (holotype B, lost)
Glomera torricellensis (Schltr.)J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 19:28 (1808)- non Schltr
Growth form Epiphyte, up to 10 cm long. Rhizome not seen. Roots filiform, long, flexible, glabrous Stem subpatent to ascending, branched, cylindric, proliferously leafed, completely covered by leaf sheaths. Leaf erect-patent to patent, linear to linear-falcate, somewhat rigid; apex unequally 2-lobed; lamina 0.7-1 cm long, 0.1-0.15 cm wide; sheath tubular, sparsely warty; apex toothed or without tooth, with bristled margin. Inflorescences terminal, one-flowered, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe not seen; floral bracts cucullate, with blackish dots outside, warty. Flowers upside-down, glabrous, 0.5 cm across. Median sepal ovate-oblong, erect, 0.3 cm long, 0.16 cm wide; apex acute. Lateral sepals obliquely falcate-oblong, deflexed, 0.22 cm long, 0.12 cm wide; apex apiculate; base slightly dilated, weakly cohering to just below the apex. Petal obliquely falcate-obovate, subspatulate, 0.34 cm long, 0.17 cm wide; apex obtuse Lip broadly rhomboid-ovate, concave, 0.2 cm long; epichile obtuse, minutely pubescent; hypochile spurred; spur broadly obtuse, 0.2 cm long. Column with column foot; clinandrium large. Anther rounded, apex ascending, obtuse, 1.6 mm long, 1 mm wide; rostellum ovate, rounded, ascending, obtuse; stigma not seen; pollinia 4, pear shaped, 1.3 mm long; viscidium absent. Ovary cylindric, glabrous, 2 mm long. Capsule not seen.
Distribution – Indonesia, Papua New Guinea.
Habitat and Ecology – Epiphyte in hill forest. Altitude 600 m. Flowering in April in the wild.
Notes - 1. Flowers white with two purple spots below the apex of the lip.
2. The epithet affinis means “similar to” in Latin and refers to several very similar looking species of Glomera.
3. Specimen observed: none (only drawing by Schlechter of de Kock 29).