Glossorhyncha tortuosa (P.Royen) J.M.H. Shaw,
Glossorhyncha tortuosa P.Royen, Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2 :604 (1979)- Type: Hartley 11312 (holotype, CANB; isotype L)
Growth form Epiphyte, erect, bushy, 50-80 cm high. Rhizome not seen. Roots filiform, flexible, glabrous. Stem glabrous, slender, flexible, proliferously leafed, entirely covered by leaf sheaths, internodes 0.7-1.9 cm long. Leaf linear, glabrous, patent, coriaceous, midrib prominent on either side, on underside only with 2 prominent nerves on either side of midrib; apex acute; base ovate; lamina 2.2-3.5 cm long, 0.19-0.23 cm wide; sheath tight clasping, tubular, slightly ribbed, glabrous; apex without tooth, with glabrous margin. Inflorescences terminal, one-flowered, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe obliquely obovoid, apiculate, 7-nerved, glabrous, 1.05-1.1 cm long, 0.25-0.3 cm wide; floral bracts ellipsoid, glabrous, apiculate, without nerves, 0.55-0.6 cm long, 0.15-0.2 cm wide. Flowers upright, glabrous. Median sepal narrowly ovate, glabrous, margin strongly revolute, apex obtuse, flexible with acute tip curved backward, 7-nerved, 0.75-0.8 cm long, 0.18-0.22 cm wide. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, free, glabrous, apex conoid-apiculate, 0.95-1.02 cm long, 0.28 -0.33 cm wide base oblique with oblong, obtuse appendage, 0.2 cm long, 0.25 cm wide, 8-nerved. Petal obliquely oblong-ovate, glabrous, apex acute, 5-nerved, 0.82-0.86 cm long, 0.12-0.16 cm wide. Lip adnate to the base of the column, free part expanded triangular, at right angle to spur, 9-nerved, glabrous, 0.8 cm long, 0.8 cm wide; epichile acute; hypochile spurred; spur clavate, glabrous, 0.9 cm long, in apical half abruptly curved towards ovary, laterally flattened, obtuse. Column slightly curved, 0.15 cm long, 0.1 cm wide; clinandrium 2-dentate; stelidia not seen. Anther not seen; rostellum not seen; pollinia not seen; stigma not seen; viscidium not seen. Ovary slightly sigmoid, oblong-ellipsoid, glabrous, 0.65-0.7 cm long, 0.12-0.15 cm wide, 3-ribbed, each ribs double. Capsule not seen.
Distribution – Papua New Guinea.
Habitat and Ecology – Epiphyte in upper montane forest of Mt. Salawaket, Morobe District. Altitude 3050 m. Flowering in January in the wild.
Notes - 1. Flowers white. Leaf sheaths in lower part often dark purple, otherwise brownish green.
2. The epithet turtuosa refers to the curved spur of the flowers (turtuosa means crooked or curved in Latin)
3. Specimen observed: Hartley 11312.