Glomera cristata (P.Royen) J.M.H. Shaw, Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2: 642 (1979)
Glossorhyncha cristata P.Royen, Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2: 642 (1979) - Type: Paymans 655 (holotype CANB; isotypes L)
Growth form Epiphyte, branched, 7-24 cm high. Rhizome not seen. Roots filiform, flexible, glabrous. Stem cylindrical, glabrous, proliferously leafed, entirely covered by leaf sheaths, internodes 0.5-0.6 cm long. Leaf ovate-lanceolate, glabrous, coriaceous, midrib grooved above, slightly prominent below, on upper side with prominent crest on either side of the groove of the midrib, margin irregularly scarious; apex unequal 2-lobed, both lobes rounded or truncate; lamina 0.3-1.8 cm long, 0.2-0.25 cm wide; sheath tight clasping, scattered warty, tubular, ribbed, 0.3-1 cm long; apex toothed, with bristled margin, bristles 0.07-0.2 cm long, each scattered papillate. Inflorescences terminal, one-flowered, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe obovoid, sparsely warty, many-ribbed, apex rounded, apiculate, 0.65-0.7 cm long, 0.35-0.45 cm wide; floral bracts thin, transparent, glabrous, 3-nerved, midrib crested, apex acute. Flowers upright, glabrous. Median sepal ovate-elliptic, 6-nerved, papillate on outside at tip only, apex obtuse, 0.9-0.95 cm long, 0.38-0.45 cm wide. Lateral sepals free, obliquely ovate-oblong, sparsely papillate on outside at tip only, 3-nerved at base, 6-nerved in higher parts, apex sub-acute, base slightly obliquely widened, 0.75-0.82 cm long, 0.28-0.35 cm wide. Petal elliptic-spathulate, glabrous, 5-nerved, apex rounded, 0.8 cm long, 0.35 cm wide. Lip adnate to the column, free part broadly ovate-triangular, glabrous, 5-nerved, 0.35-0.45 cm long, 0.75-0.8 cm wide, midrib crested on inside, grooved on underside, groove extending over most of underside of spur; epichile 3-lobed, rounded; hypochile spurred; spur clavate, glabrous, apex obliquely truncate, 2-lobed, grooved on both sides, 0.8 cm long, 0.15 cm wide. Column stout, curved, 0.25-0.28 cm long; clinandrium crenulate; stelidia not seen. Anther not seen; rostellum not seen; pollinia not seen; stigma not seen; viscidium not seen. Ovary not seen. Capsule brown, ellipsoid, 6-ribbed, glabrous, 0.8-1.1 cm long, 0.3-0.35 cm wide.
Distribution – Papua New Guinea.
Habitat and Ecology – Epiphyte in upper montane forest of Mt. Albert Edward. Altitude 3100. Flowering season not known.
Notes - 1. Flowers greenish white.
2. The epithet cristata refers to the crested midrib on the lip of the species (cristata means crested in Latin).
3. Specimen observed: Paymans 655 (L 0064491).