Glomera imitans (Schltr.) J.J.Sm.

Glomera imitans (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg 2(8):14 (1912)

Glossorhyncha imitans Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1:311 (1912) - TypeSchlechter 17685  (holotype, B lost)

 

Growth form Epiphyte, depressed or erect-patent, 5-10 cm high. Rhizome not seen. Roots filiform, flexible, glabrous. Stem branched, slender, thinly cylindric, proliferously leafed, completely covered by leaf sheaths. Leaf patent, ligulate; apex oblique, obtusely apiculate; base narrowed; lamina 0.35-0.65 cm long, 0.13-0.18 cm wide; sheath tubular, ribbed-nerves, ribs sparsely warty; apex with tooth, with bristled margin, bristles 0.2-0.3 cm long. Inflorescences terminal, one-flowered, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe broadly elliptic, apex apiculate, glabrous; floral bracts thin, transparent, smaller than spathe. Flowers upside-down, glabrous. Median sepal oblong, apex acute, glabrous, 0.55 cm long, 0.19 cm wide. Lateral sepals falcate, fused along the margins, somewhat dilated along the front margins, apex acute, 0.36 cm long, 0.19 cm wide. Petal obliquely ligulate, apex obtuse, 0.5 cm long, 0.15 cm wide. Lip suborbicular, 0.3 cm long, 0.3 cm wide; epichile shortly apiculate; hypochile spurred; spur cylindrical, apex obtuse, 0.2 cm long, 0.1 cm wide. Column  glabrous, 0.9 mm long; clinandrium broadly triangular, apex apiculate, irregular tooth; stelidia not seen. Anther broadly cucullate, obtuse projection, in front, ascending, broadly obtuse, glabrous, 0.17 cm long, 0.12 cm wide; rostellum not seen; stigma not seen; pollinia 4, pear-shaped, 1.3 mm long, 0.6 mm wide; viscidium not seen. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, 0.4 cm long. Capsule not seen.

Distribution – Papua New Guinea.

Habitat and Ecology - Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 1000 m. Flowering in May in the wild.

Notes -  1. Flowers white with two patches of fine grey-green dots on the tip of the lip.

2. The epithet imitans refers to the close similarity with species of Glossorhyncha.

3. Specimen observed: none.

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