Glomera compressa J.J.Sm.

Glomera compressa J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 45:2 (1911)

Glossorhyncha compressa (J.J.Sm.) Schltr., Feddes Repert Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih 1:293 (1912)

Glomera adenandroides (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, ser 2, 8:12 (1912)-

Glossorhnycha adenandroides Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1:294 (1912)-

Glomera subeciliata J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 14: 379 (1929)

Glossorhyncha subeciliata (J.J.Sm.) P. Royen, Folia Geobot. Phytotax, 9:84 (1974) -- Type : Lam 1825  (holotype, L) New Guinea.

Growth form Epiphyte, branched, up to 53 cm high. Rhizome ca 1-2 mm in diameter. Root filiform, flexible, glabrous, up to 17 cm long.  Stem compressed, proliferously leafed, internodes 0.8-2 cm. Leaf lanceolate, coriaceous; apex unequal 2-lobed, both lobes obtuse; base petiolate-narrowed; lamina 2.8-3 cm long, 0.27-0.3 cm wide, midrib grooved above, prominent below, when died transversely rugulose above; sheath tight, slightly warty; apex without tooth, with bristled margin, bristle 0.5 mm long. Inflorescences one-flowered, terminal, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe ovate, transparent, punctate; apex acuminate, 1.55 cm long, 0.65 cm wide; floral bract transparent, thinner, densely punctate, 1.65 cm long, 0.55 cm wide. Flower upright, glabrous. Median sepal linear-lanceolate, 1.35-1.60 cm long, 0.35-0.65 cm wide; apex acute. Lateral sepal linear-lanceolate, falcate, 6-nerved, 1.25-2 cm long, 0.40-0.45 cm wide; apex apiculate, base oblique dilatate, up to a third connate with the spur. Petal oblong-spatulate, 1.6 cm long, 0.80-0.85 cm wide; apex obtuse, base 3 nerved, upper part 7-nerved. Lip cuneate, fleshy, concave, 0.45 cm long, 0.32 cm wide; epichile obtuse, ornamented with brown glandular cells; hypochile rounded, spurred, with transparent keel in the middle of the lamina; spur subcylindric, 1.4 cm long, apex obtuse. Column 0.30-0.35 cm long, with column foot; apex curved inward; clinandrium circular, with crenulate margin; stelidia absent. Anther 0.10 cm long, 0.12 cm wide; pollinia pear-shaped, ca 6 mm long, 2.7 mm wide; viscidium present. Ovary cylindric, 1.5-1.7 cm long, glabrous. Capsule not seen.

Distribution - Papua New Guinea.

Habitat and Ecology – Epiphyte in the montane forest of Mt. Abhang and Mt. Hellwig.  Altitude 1200-2800 m. Flowering time not known.

Notes -  1. This species is characterized by it compressed stem and leaf sheaths, long bracts, narrow petals and long spurs.

2. Flower white.

3. The epithet compressa refers to the compressed stem and leaf sheaths.

4. Specimens observed: Type L 0056417(INA); L 0324486 (INA); L 4163270 (PNG-HBL 20032455); L 0324490 (PNG); L 4163335(PNG, can’t take the herbarium specimen, must find the sample in HORTUS). The specimen that is most similar with the type is L 0324486 with the exception of brown spots on the leaf that are absent. Specimens L 4163270 and L 0324490 have a  shorter spur, column, and lip and lack the brown glandular cells on the epichile.

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