Glomera inflata (Schltr.) J.J.Sm.

Glomera inflata (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 66:171(1934)

Giulianettia inflata Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 58:86 (1922)- Type : Ledermann 12944 (holotype, B lost)

Glossorhyncha inflate (Schltr.) P. Royen, Folia Geobot. Phytotax 9(1):83 (1974)

 

Growth form Epiphyte, small shrub-like, erect or ascending, up to 30 cm high. Rhizome not seen. Roots filiform, flexible, glabrous. Stem strongly branched, proliferously leafed, completely covered by leaf sheaths. Leaf erect-patent or patent, linear or linear-subulate, carnose, glabrous; apex obtuse; base shortly petiolate-attenuate; lamina 1-1.3 cm long, 0.1 cm wide; sheath tubular, warty; apex with or without tooth, with bristled margin. Inflorescences terminal, one-flowered, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe elliptic-cucullate; floral bracts not seen. Flowers upright or upside-down, glabrous. Median sepal patent or recurved, oblong, apex obtuse, 0.4 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, base along the front margin dilated. Petal similar to sepals and about as long, but narrower, slightly recurved. Lip broadly cuneate-flabellate, 0.2 long, 0.25 cm wide; epichile truncate, indistinctly 3-lobes, carnose, slightly more than a third as long as the petals; hypochile spurred; spur deflexed, cylindrical, 0.4 cm long, apex inflated-globose, dorsally compressed. Column  short, with column foot; clinandrium dorsal side lower; stelidia not seen. Anther not seen; rostellum not seen; stigma not seen; pollinia not seen; viscidium not seen. Ovary slender, cylindrical, glabrous, sessile. Capsule not seen.

Distribution – Papua New Guinea.

Habitat and Ecology - Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 1400-1500 m. Flowering season not known.

Notes - 1. Flowers pale brown.

2. The epithet  inflata refers to the inflated-globose apex of the spur.

3. Specimen observed: none.

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