Glomera ambuensis (P.Royen)J.M.H.Shaw

Glomera ambuensis (P.Royen) J.M.H. Shaw, Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2:623 (1979) –

Type: Kalkman 5137 (holotype, L)

 
Growth form Epiphyte, creeping along substrate with subpendulous branches, up to 60 cm high. Rhizome 3-4 cm in diameter. Root filiform, up to 3 cm long, flexible, glabrous. Stem branched, cylindric, glabrous, proliferously leafed, internodes 0.30-2.8 cm long. Leaf linear, patent to spreading, subcoriaceous, glabrous, midrib grooved above, sometimes flanked by one slightly prominent ridge on either side, prominent below, lateral nerves 2 or 3 on either side, prominent on underside only, margin thin, irregularly wavy-papillate, with brown spots underside only; apex unequally 2-lobed, both lobes obtuse or roundedbase ovate;  lamina 0.7-2.4 cm long, 0.25-0.4 cm wide; sheath tight, tubular, densely warty, many ribbed; apex toothed, with bristled margin, bristle 0.2-0.3 cm long, each sparsely warty. Inflorescences terminal, one-flowered, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe obovoid-cylindrical, transparent, glabrous, 1-1.5 cm long, 0.4-0.65 cm wide, 7-nerved, midrib slightly crested, with brown dots, sparsely warty mainly along the nerves, apex obtuse, apiculate; floral bracts ovate, thin, transparent, less warty, with brown dots, 1-nerved, apex obtuse, apiculate, 1.1 cm long, 0.75cm wide. Flower up-side-down. Median sepal ovate-lanceolate, 3-nerved at base, 7-nerved in higher part, 1.5 cm long, 0.35 cm wide; apex obtuse, conoid-apiculate, papillate to glabrous. Lateral sepal falcate ovate, 5-nerved, 1.7 cm long, 0.4 cm wide; apex obtuse, conoid-apiculate, papillate to glabrous; base connate along lower margins of basal appendages and along upper margin along a narrow basal part. Petals narrowly ovate-lanceolate, glabrous, 3-nerved at base, 5-nerved in higher part, 1.15 cm long, 0.25 cm wide; apex obtuse. Lip broadly rhombic-cordate, 3-lobed, adnate to the base of the column, 0.42-0.7 cm long, 0.35-0.58 cm wide; epichile obtuse, thickened, 7-nerved, with brown glands; hypochile with longitudinal keel in middle, spurred; spur glabrous, clavate, 1.3 cm long, indistinctly 2-lobed at tip. Column 0.25 cm long, 0.15 cm wide, without column foot;  clinandriumn 2-dentate. Anther not seen. Ovary falcate-clavate, 1.1-1.3 cm long, glabrous, 3-ribbed, each rib double one, punctate. Capsule not seen.                                                                                                                           

Distribution –Papua New Guinea.

Habitat and Ecology - Epiphyte in the upper montane forest on Mt. Ambua. Altitude 3350 m. Flowering time not known.

Notes - 1. Flowers entirely green with dark ornamentation on the tip of the lip.

 2. The epithet ambuensis refers to the location (Mount Ambua) where the type specimen was collected.

4. Specimen observed: L0061264.

%LABEL% (%SOURCE%)