Glomera brevipetala J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, 2(2):4 (1911)
Glossorhyncha brevipetala (J.J.Sm.) Schltr. Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih 1:298 (1912) – Type : de Kock 40 (holotype, BO (spirit specimen 721.8))
Growth form Terrestrial. Rhizome not seen. Roots filiform, long, flexible, glabrous. Stem branched, slender, in cross section ransversely elliptic, proliferously leafed, entirely covered by sheaths, internodes 0.23 cm long, 0.06 cm wide. Leaf oblong-ovate, patent, sessile, carnose, above convex with a longitudinal grooved midvein, densely prominently striate, below obtusely convex, minutely furfuraceous, finely punctate; apex somewhat contracted, obtuse; lamina 0.35-0.7 cm long, 0.15-0.3 cm wide; sheath surpassing internodes, tubular, angular, densely warty; apex with or without tooth, glabrous margin. Inflorescences terminal, one-flowered, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe clasping the ovary (not the spur), cucullate, tubular at the base only, strongly laterally compressed, nerves 8, prominent outside, sparsely minutely furfuraceous, finely punctate, 0.63 cm long, apex acuminate, obtusely keeled; floral bracts thin, transparent, 0.55 cm long. Flowers upside-down, widely opening, 0.72 cm wide, 0.83 cm long, glabrous. Median sepal subobovate, subhorizontal, in the middle weakly recurved, concave, 3-nerved, sparsely warty, finely punctate, apex subulate-acuminate, 0.56 cm long, 0.27 cm wide, apex 0.18 cm long. Lateral sepals shortly connate, along the front margin at base obliquely rounded-dilated, strongly concave, clasping the spur, strongly obliquely ovate, apex long subulate-acuminate, 3-nerved, 0.58 cm long, 0.95 cm long, 0.45 cm wide; mentum short, pointing backwards, laterally compressed, making an angle with the ovary, rounded-truncate, dorsally gibbose, 0.34 cm long. Petal apex recurved, 5-angled, narrowed, apex narrowed, narrowly obtuse, minutely obtusely apiculate, 3-nerved, 0.4 cm long, 0.24 cm wide. Lip small, not clasping the column, adnate to the base of the column, weakly 3-lobed, carnose, 0.08 cm long, 0.13 cm wide; epichile lateral lobe patent, somewhat rounded, mid lobe decurved, triangular, almost obtuse, with transverse rib separated from basal part of the lip; hypochile spurred; spur laterally compressed, subobovate, apex in front somewhat dilated, obliquely rounded, 0.27 cm long, 0.76 cm wide, making acute angle with the ovary. Column dorsally convex, to the apex of the rostellum 0.18 cm long, with column foot, making obtuse angle with the upper part of the spur, 0.1 cm long; clinandrium dentate, filament oblong, truncate; stelidia triangular, acutely acuminate, slightly shorter than the rostellum; rostellum transversely quadrangular, truncate, convex; stigma lower margin elongated, almost parallel with the rostellum, broadly rounded, somewhat incurved, together with rostellum bilabiate. Anther not seen; pollinia not seen; viscidium not seen. Ovary obconical, twisted, with 3 conspicuous and 3 thin grooves, sparsely and minutely warty-finely punctate, 0.25 cm long. Capsule not seen.
Distribution – Indonesia, Papua New Guinea.
Habitat and Ecology - Terrestrial in upper montane forest in shaded positions. Altitude 1920-2450 m. Flowering in March, April and September in the wild.
Notes - 1. Flowers creamy white, lip green with two red spots
2. The epithet brevipetala refers to short petal of the species (brevi means short and petala refers to the petal).
3. Specimen observed: de Kock 40.