Glomera dekockii J.J.Sm.

Glomera dekockii J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg 2(2):2 (1911) – Type: de Kock 74 (lectotype BO; isotype, L)

Glomera subalpina P.Royen., Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2:531 (1979) –Type : Kloss s.n (holotype K; isotype L, BM)


Growth form Terrestrial. Rhizome not seen. Root filiform, flexible, glabrous. Stem rigid, branched, cylindric in basal part, ovate in cross section, glabrous, proliferously leafed, internodes 0.4-1.9 cm long. Leaf lanceolate, erect-patent, glabrous, rigid, carnose above on either side of the longitudinal groove, convex, , transversely rugulose, with brown dots on the underside only; apex unequally 2-lobed, both lobes obtuse; base shortly contracted; lamina 1.7-2 cm long, 0.4-0.5 cm wide; sheath tight, tubular, surpassing the internodes, densely warty, 0.28-0.3 cm wide; apex toothed, without bristles. Inflorescences terminal, capitate, nodding, 6-flowered, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe ovate, concave, transparent, glabrous, 1 cm long, apex acuminate, margin incurved or spathe leaf-like; floral bracts triangular, thin, transparent, strongly concave, with brown dots, 0.5-0.63 cm long, 0.3-0.4 cm wide, 3-nerved, apex narrowly obtuse. Flower upright, glabrous, 0.65 cm long, 0.6 cm in diameter. Median sepal ovate, strongly concave, 3-nerved at base, 5-nerved in higher parts, 0.55-0.57 cm long, 0.37-0.40 cm wide; apex obtuse, shortly obtusely apiculate, recurved. Lateral sepal obliquely broadly triangular, 3-nerved at base, 4-nerved in higher parts, 0.45-0.65 cm long, 0.38-0.40 cm wide; apex shortly acutely acuminate, recurved; base decurrent on the column foot, 0.33 cm connate, with mentum; mentum saccate, acute angle with the ovary, dorsally impressed, weakly 3-lobulate, 0.4 cm long, entirely clasping the spur. Petals oblong-subobovate, 3-nerved, glabrous, 0.5 cm long, 0.26 cm wide, 3-nerved; apex obtuse, recurved; base shortly narrowed. Lip subovate, not clasping the column, only the base adnate to the column, 0.13 cm long, 0.18 cm wide; epichile weakly 3-lobed, mid-lobe porrect, forming a right angle with the spur, subovate, obtuse, apex obtusely convex, with brown glands mostly in the apical part; lateral lobes indistinct, erect, lightly rounded; hypochile with transverse, fleshy, rounded, decurved lamella, spurred; spur oblong, laterally compressed, glabrous, making right angle with the ovary, 0.35-0.38 cm long, 0.18 cm wide, apex broadly obtuse. Column curved, club-shaped, with column foot, making an obtuse angle with ovary, 0.28-0.29 cm long, base 0.1 cm adnate to the lip; clinandrium triangular, obtuse tooth; stelidia triangular. Anther cucullate, suborbicular, apex retuse, membranous-marginate, connective conical thickened, 0.1 cm long; rostellum large, transversely quadrangular, subretuse, surpassing the stelidia; stigma semiorbicular, lower margin strongly elongated, recurved; pollinia not seen. Ovary cylindric, curved, glabrous, 6-ribbed, 0.41-0.90 cm long. Capsule not seen.

Distribution –Papua New Guinea.

Habitat and Ecology – Terrestrial in upper montane forest on exposed positions of Mt. Goliath.  Altitude 3450 m. Flowering from January up to October in the wild

Notes - 1. Flowers white with black ornamentation on the tip of the lip.

 2. The epithet dekockii refers to the collector of the holotype, mr. AdriaanCornelis de Kock.

3. Specimen observed: L0061276

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