Glomera diosmoides (Schltr.) J.J.Sm.

Glomera diosmoides (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg 2(8):13 (1912)

Glossorhyncha diosmoides Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1:308(1912)- TypeSchlechter 19637; 19711 (holotype, B lost; isotype AMES, BO, K)

Glossorhyncha stenophylla Gilli, Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien. B.  84:34 (1980 publ. 1983)

 

Growth form Epiphyte, slender, erect or patent, 15-30 cm high. Rhizome not seen. Roots filiform, long, flexible, glabrous. Stem more or less branched, filiform, proliferously leafed, completely covered by leaf sheaths, internodes 0.5-1.1 cm long. Leaf erect-patent, filiform-acicular, glabrous; apex acute; lamina 1.5-3 cm long, 0.1 cm in diameter; sheath tubular, 4-5-nerved, raised nerves, glabrous; apex toothed, with bristled margin. Inflorescences terminal, one-flowered, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe cucullate-clasping, broadly elliptic, apex apiculate; floral bracts thin, transparent, smaller than spathe. Flowers upright, glabrous. Median sepal ligulate-oblong, apex apiculate, 0.55 cm long, 0.18 cm wide. Lateral sepals falcate, front margins scarcely dilated at base, 0.32 cm long, 0.13 cm wide. Petal oblanceolate-spathulate, subapiculate, apex oblique, 0.52 cm long, 0.155 cm wide. Lip very broadly obovate, 0.3 cm long, 0.35 cm wide; epichile broadly obtuse; hypochile spurred; spur semioblong, apex obtuse, 0.12 cm long. Column curved, glabrous, 0.12 cm long; clinandrium entire, semiorbicular, apiculate; stelidia not seen. Anther broadly cucullate, with obtuse projection, in front ascending, glabrous, 0.167 cm long, 0.12 cm wide; rostellum not seen; stigma not seen; pollinia 4, pear-shaped, 0.13 cm long, 0.07 cm wide; viscidium absent. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, 0.5 cm long. Capsule not seen.

Distribution - Papua New Guinea.

Habitat and Ecology - Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 1200-1300 m. Flowering in May and June in the wild.

Notes -  1. Flowers white with a patch of fine grey-green dots on the tip of the lip. Anther light brown.

2. The epithet diosmoides refers to the resemblance in habitus with the genus Diosma (Rutaceae).

3. Specimen observed: Schlechter 19637; 19711.

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