Glomera obovata (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg 2(8):13 (1912)
Glossorhyncha obovata Schltr. -Type: Schlechter 19056 (holotype, B lost)
Growth form Epiphyte, erect or patent, up to 17 cm high. Rhizome not seen. Roots long, filiform, flexible, glabrous. Stem more or less branched, compressed, proliferously leafed, completely covered by leaf sheaths. Leaf lanceolate-ligulate, patent; apex oblique, acute; base cuneate; lamina 1.2-1.8 cm long, 0.3-0.45 cm wide; sheath tubular, compressed, closely appressed, striate with a few thickened nerves, sparsely warty; apex toothed, with bristled margin. Inflorescences terminal, one-flowered, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe broadly elliptic, apiculate, cucullate-clasping, glabrous; floral bracts transparent, thin, smaller than spathe. Flowers upright, glabrous. Median sepal oblong-elliptic, apiculate, 0.55 cm long, 0.28 cm wide, Lateral sepals oblique, base dilated along the front margins, 0.48 cm long, 0.22 cm wide. Petal obliquely obovate-oblong, obtuse, 0.6 cm long, 0.3 cm wide. Lip broadly obovate, 0.35 cm long, 0.35 cm wide; epichile obtusely apiculate, obovate; hypochile spurred; spur conical, apex truncate, retuse, 0.02 cm long. Column 0.16 cm long, glabrous; clinandrium broadly triangular, unequally crenulate; stelidia not seen. Anther broadly cucullate, obtusely umbonate, in front ascending, obtuse, glabrous, 0.2 cm long, 0.165 cm wide; pollinia 4, pear-shaped, ca. 0.15 cm long; rostellum not seen; stigma not seen; viscidium not seen. Ovary cylindric, glabrous, 0.5 cm long. Capsule not seen.
Distribution – Papua New Guinea.
Habitat and Ecology - Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 1300 m. Flowering in January in the wild.
Notes - 1. Flowers white with a patch of fine grey-green dots on the tip of the lip; anther light brown.
2. The epithet obovata refers to the obovate epichile of the lip.
3. Specimen observed: Schlechter 19056.