Glomera fruticulosa Schltr.

Glomera fruticulosa Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1:285 (1912)- Type: Schlechter 19593 (holotype, B lost)

Growth form Epiphyte, patent or erect, shrubby, up to 45 cm high. Rhizome decumbent, elongated, stem-like. Roots filiform, long, flexible, glabrous. Stem compressed, slightly rigid, branched, densely leafy, completely covered by leaf sheaths. Leaf  lanceolate-ligulate, erect-patent, slightly carnose; apex strongly unequal 2-lobed, both lobes narrowly obtuse; base rounded; lamina 4-6 cm long, 0.5-0.8 cm wide; sheath tubular, shiny, 1-2 cm long; apex toothed, with glabrous margin. Inflorescences terminal, multi-flowered, nodding, subglobose when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe tubular, broad, apex apiculate; floral bracts transparent, thin, very small. Flowers upright, glabrous, not fully opened. Median sepal oblong, apex obtuse, 1 cm long, 0.36 cm wide. Lateral sepals oblique, connate up to apical third; mentum obtuse, depressed dorsally, 1.06 cm long, 0.32 cm wide. Petal obliquely ligulate, apex obliquely truncate-broadly obtuse, 1.04 cm long, 0.3 cm wide. Lips subrhombic-quadrate, 0.25 cm long, 0.25 cm wide;  epichile broadly obtuse; hypochile spurred; spur elliptic, apex obtuse, 4.2 mm long, 2.3 mm wide. Column 0.27 cm long, glabrous; clinandrium 3-lobed, lobes crenulate-dentate; stelidia not seen. Anther broadly cucullate, projection obtuse, in front retuse, glabrous, 3.2 mm long, 2.55 mm wide; rostellum not seen; stigma not seen; pollinia 4, pear-shaped, 2.55 mm long, 1.5 mm wide; viscidium present. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, 0.6 cm long. Capsule not seen.

Distribution –Papua New Guinea.

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

Notes -  1. Flowers yellowish with vermillion ornamentation on the tip of the lip.

2. The epithet  fruticulosa refers to  the shrub-like character of the species (fruticulosus means small shrub in Latin)

3. Specimen observed : Schlechter 19593.

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