Glomera squamulosa (Schltr.) J.J.Sm.

Glomera squamulosa (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 15:28 (1908)

Glossorhyncha squamulosa Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee : 132 (1905)- Type : Schlechter 14556 (holotype, B lost; isotype AMES, BO, K, NSW, P)

 

Growth form Epiphyte, up to 20 cm high. Rhizome not seen. Roots filiform, long, flexible, glabrous. Stem ascending to pendulous, branching, branches cylindrical at base, laterally compressed to the apex, proliferously leafed, completely covered by the leaf sheath. Leaf linear-ligulate, erect-patent, coriaceous, glabrous; apex unequally 2-lobed; lamina 1.7-3 cm long, 0.2-0.4 cm wide; sheath tubular; apex toothed, with bristled margin. Inflorescences terminal, one-flowered, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe not seen; floral bracts cucullate, slightly longer than ovary, outside squamulose. Flowers upright, glabrous, 0.7 cm long. Median sepal oblong, 0.4 cm long, 0.175 cm wide, apex subacute. Lateral sepals widened at base, 0.4 cm long, 3.5 mm wide, long fused in front, clasping the spur, apex narrowly obtuse. Petal obliquely obovate-spathulate, sub falcate, apex acute, 0.37 cm long, 0.146 cm wide. Lip broadly ovate, 0.2 cm long, concave; epichile minutely pubescent, obtuse; hypochile spurred; spur saccate, cylindric, 0.3 cm long, obtuse. Column with column foot; clinandrium large; stelidia not seen. Anther subcordate, in front ascending obtuse, 0.10 cm long, 0.165 cm wide; rostellum not seen; stigma not seen; pollinia 4, oblique, 0.1 cm long; viscidium not seen. Ovary sub-cylindrical, 0.5 cm long. Capsule not seen.

Distribution – Papua New Guinea.

Habitat and Ecology –  Epiphyte in hill forest. Altitude 600 m.  Flowering in April in the wild.

Notes -  1. Flowers white, with two purple dots on the tip of the lip.

2. The epithet  squamulosa refers to the many scales on the floral bract (squamosus means ‘many fine scales’ in Latin).

3. Specimen observed Schlechter 14556.

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