Glomera rigidula J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg 2(8):13 (1912)
Glossorhyncha kaniensis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. beih. 1:302 (1912)- Type: Schlechter 16720 (holotype, B lost; isotype BO, K, L)
Growth form Epiphyte, erect or erect-patent, up to 15 cm high. Rhizome ca. 1 mm in diameter. Roots filiform, flexible, glabrous. Stem erect patent or patent, strongly branched, compressed, proliferously leafed, completely covered by leaf sheaths, internodes 0.2-0.6 cm long. Leaf oblong or oblong-ligulate, patent, glabrous; apex unequally 2-lobed, both lobes obtuse; lamina 7-11.5 cm long, 0.3-0.6 cm wide; sheath tubular, tight, compressed, shiny, weakly nerved; apex toothed, with bristled margin, bristles 0.8 mm. Inflorescences terminal, one-flowered, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe cucullate-clasping, broadly elliptic, densely muricate-papillose outside, apex apiculate or short acuminate; floral bracts transparent, thin, similar with spathe but smaller. Flowers upright, glabrous. Median sepal oblong, glabrous, apex obtuse, 0.6 cm long, 0.33 cm wide. Lateral sepals oblique, base widened along the front margin, decurrent, apex subacute, 0.62 cm long, 0.31 cm wide. Petal obovate-oblong, subfalcate, apex obtuse, 0.62 cm long, 0.31 cm wide. Lip elliptic, 0.4 cm long, 0.3 cm wide; epichile subacute; hypochile spurred; spur oblong-quadrate, apex obtuse, 0.25 cm long, 0.23 cm wide. Column short, glabrous, less than half as long as the lip; clinandrium rounded, irregularly dentate; stelidia not seen. Anther broadly cucullate, with obtuse projection, in front ascending, broadly obtuse, glabrous, 0.20 cm long, 0.26 cm wide; pollinia 4, pyriform, 0.24 cm long; stigma not seen; viscidium not present. Ovary cylindric, glabrous, 0.4 cm long. Capsule not seen.
Distribution – Papua New Guinea.
Habitat and Ecology - Epiphyte in montane forest of Kaiser-Wilhelms mountains. Altitude 1000 m. Flowering in October in the wild.
Notes - 1. Flowers white.
2. The epithet rigidula refers to the slightly stiff character of the stem of the species (rigidula means slightly stiff in Latin)
3. Specimen observed: Schlechter 16720.