Glomera longa (Schltr.) J.J.Sm.

Glomera longa (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg 2(8):13 (1912)

Glossorhyncha longa Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1:305 (1912)- Type: Schlechter 19139 (holotype, B lost)

Growth form Epiphyte, long pendulous, up to 60 cm high. Rhizome not seen. Roots filiform, flexible, glabrous. Stem branched, slender, long, flexible, proliferously leafed, entirely covered by leaf-sheaths. Leaf linear or ligulate-linear; apex unequally 2-lobed, both lobes obtuse; base cuneate; lamina 1.5-2 cm long, 0.15-0.25 cm wide; sheath tight clasping, densely striate-nervose, sparsely warty; apex toothed, with bristled margin, bristles 0.6-0.9 cm long. Inflorescences terminal, one-flowered, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe broadly elliptic, subacute, cucullate-clasping, with sparsely black dots outside; floral bracts transparent, thin, similar to spathe but smaller. Flowers upright, glabrous. Median sepal oblong, apiculate, 0.55 cm long, 0.19 cm wide. Lateral sepals oblique, base dilated along the front margins, 0.57 cm long, 0.15 cm wide. Petal oblong-spathulate, lower half distinctly narrowed, apex broadly obtuse, oblique, 0.6 cm long, 0.16 cm wide. Lip obovate, 0.35 cm long, 0.3 cm wide; epichile obtuse; hypochile spurred; spur semioblong, obtuse, 0.2 cm long, 0.2 cm wide. Column 0.15 cm long, glabrous; clinandrium semiorbicular, irregularly dentate-crenulate. Anther broadly cucullate, obtusely umbonate, in front ascending, obtuse, glabrous, 0.14 cm long, 0.12 cm wide; rostellum not seen; pollinia 4, pear-shaped, 0.12 cm long ; stigma  not seen; viscidium not seen. Ovary cylindric, glabrous, 0.4 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 with white humps.

2. The epithet  longa refers to the long branches of the species.

3. Specimen observed: Schlechter 19139.

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