Glomera patens Schltr.

Glomera patens Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 58:80 (1922)-Type: Ledermann 13080 (holotype, B lost)

Growth form Epiphyte, pendulous, scarcely branched, elongated, up to 60 cm high. Rhizome not seen. Roots long, filiform, flexible, glabrous. Stem compressed, proliferously leafed, completely covered by leaf sheaths. Leaf  obliquely ovate-lanceolate, strongly patent, glabrous; apex acute or subacute; lamina 3-4.5 cm long, 1-1.4 cm wide; sheath not seen. Inflorescences terminal, multi-flowered, subglobose, 2.3-2.5 cm across, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe semiorbicular, broadly obtuse or shortly acuminate; floral bracts transparent, thin, elliptic-cucullate, as long as the ovary. Flowers upright, glabrous. Median sepal elliptic, apex obtuse, 0.7 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, base strongly concave, fused to above the middle. Petal obliquely oblong, obtuse, narrowed toward the base, as long as the sepals. Lip elliptic, 0.3 cm long; epichile obtuse; hypochile thickened, spurred; spur dorsally compressed, broadly obtuse, slightly more than half as long as the hypochile blade. Column short; clinandrium dorsally obtusely tridentate; stelidia not seen. Anther not seen; pollinia not seen; rostellum not seen; stigma not seen; viscidium not seen. Ovary cylindric, sessile, 0.5 cm long. Capsule not seen.

Distribution –Papua New Guinea.

Habitat and Ecology - Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 1400-1500 m. Flowering season not known.

Notes -  1. Flowers white with blood-red spots on the lip.

2. The epithet patens refers to the spreading leaves of the species.

3. Specimen observed: Ledermann 13080.

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