Glomera saccosepala J.J.Sm.,Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg 2(2):5 (1911)- Type : de Kock 90 (holotype, BO)
Growth form Epiphyte. Rhizome not seen. Roots filiform, long,flexible, glabrous. Stem strongly branched, branches thinner, 0.08 in diameter, completely covered by leaf sheaths, internodes up to 1.5 cm long. Leaf lanceolate, erect, below apex constricted, above convex with longitudinal groove, below obtusely convex, transversely rugulose, sparsely punctate, rigid, carnose; apex narrowly obtuse; base contracted-subpetiolate; lamina 1-1.3 cm long, 0.23-0.26 cm wide; sheath surpassing the internodes, tubular, longitudinally ribbed, sparsely warty, punctate; apex toothed, appressed, with bristled margin. Inflorescences terminal, one-flowered, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe clasping the ovary, slightly inflated, tubular, apex split, 3-lobulate, prominent nerves, 0.9 cm long; floral bracts thin, transparent, tubular at base only, when flattened ovate, broadly obtuse, 0.75 cm long. Flowers upright, glabrous, 1.45 cm long. Median sepal sub-elliptic, obtuse, conical-apiculate, 3-nerved at base, 0.6 cm long, 0.3 cm wide. Lateral sepals obliquely triangular, obtuse, conical-apiculate, 3-nerved at base, 7-nerved in higher part, base extended into a triangular lobe with incurved back margins that are appressed against the apex of the spur but not clasping it, free part 0.58 cm long, base to the apex of basal lobes 0.45 cm wide, apex to apex of lobule 0.78 cm long. Petal oblong, obtuse, convex, 3-nerved, 0.55 cm long, 0.23 cm wide. Lip at base adnate to the column, apex recurved, cucullate-concave, carnose, in total 1.1 cm long, when flattened 0.27 cm long, 0.73 cm wide; epichile indistinctly 3-lobed, lateral lobes erect, appressed to the column, rounded, mid lobe broadly triangular; hypochile spurred; spur appressed to the ovary, conical-cylindrical, apex slightly recurved, obtuse, dorsally broadly channeled, to the apex of ovary 0.9 cm long, basal part 0.26 cm in diameter. Column dorsally convex, 0.23 cm long; clinandrium making an obtuse angle with the basal part, dentate; stelidia tooth-like. Anther cucullate, transversely subovate, apex somewhat bilobulate, connective at base slightly conical-raised, 0.16 cm wide; rostellum broad, truncate, slightly retuse; stigma obliquely funnel-shaped, margin raised, elongated, recurved; pollinia not seen; viscidium absent. Ovary triangular, 3-grooved, 0.95 cm long. Capsule not seen.
Distribution – Papua New Guinea.
Habitat and Ecology – Epiphyte in upper montane forest. Altitude 3250 m. Flowering in March in the wild.
Notes - 1. Flowers white with red lip.
2. The epithet saccosepala refers to the sack-like base of the lateral sepals of the species. (sacco- means sack in Latin and -sepala means sepal).
3. Specimen observed de Kock 90.