Glomera platypetala Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih 1:282 (1912)-Type: Schlechter 18197 (holotype, B lost)
Growth form Epiphyte, erect, branched, up to 35 cm high. Rhizome not seen. Roots long, filiform, flexible, glabrous. Stem rigid, slender, proliferously leafed, completely covered by leaf sheaths. Leaf linear, erect-patent, glabrous, carnose, keeled below; apex acute; base shortly petiolate, narrowed; lamina 1.5-2.5 cm long, 0.2-0.35 cm wide; sheath tight, slightly warty, compressed, laterally keeled on both sides; apex toothed, with glabrous margin. Inflorescences terminal, several-flowered, nodding, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe not seen; floral bracts not seen. Flowers upright, glabrous. Median sepal elliptic, apiculate, 0.7 cm long, 0.37 cm wide. Lateral sepals fused at very base, shortly apiculate, 0.78 cm long, 0.4 cm wide. Petal suborbicular, apex broadly obtuse, oblique, base clawed-cuneate, 0.65 cm long, 0.44 cm wide. Lip broadly ovate, 0.23 cm long, 0.18 cm wide; epichile obtuse; hypochile spurred; spur subquadrate-oblongoid, 0.3 cm long, 0.25 cm wide, broadly obtuse. Column a third as long as the lip; clinandrium denticulate; stelidia not seen. Anther slightly emarginated at front, glabrous, 0.19 cm long, 0.13 cm wide; pollinia 4, obliquely clavate, 0.178 cm long; rostellum large, obtuse; stigma not seen; viscidium dorsally bilobulate. Ovary cylindrical, sessile, glabrous, 0.55 cm long. Capsule not seen.
Distribution –Papua New Guinea.
Habitat and Ecology - Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 1200 m. Flowering in September in the wild.
Notes - 1. Flowers white, lip green with black apex; anther light brown with white humps.
2. The epithet platypetala refers to the broad petals of the species (platy- means broad and -petala means petal in Latin).
3. Specimen observed: Schlechter 18197.