Glomera bougainvilleana Ormerod

Glomera bougainvilleana Ormerod, Australian Orchid Review 60(2): 37 (1995)- Type : Schodde & Craven 3834 (holotype LAE; isotype AMES, BO, BRI, CANB, G, K, L, PNH, US)

 

Growth form Epiphyte, semi-pendulous, up to 1.5 m high. Rhizome not seen. Roots not seen. Stem foliose in apical part, with 10 or more leaves, lignose, transversely oblong in cross section, somewhat compressed, 10 mm broad,  completely covered by leaf sheaths, internodes 2.6-3 cm long. Leaf ligulate-lanceolate, subcoriaceous, 13-nerved, median nerve hardly prominent, mid-dull green above, paler below; apex unequally 2-lobed, both lobes obtuse; base narrowed;  lamina 5-19 cm long, 1.6-2.3 cm wide; sheath tubular, glabrous, weakly striate, 2.6-3.2 cm long; apex without tooth, with glabrous margin. Inflorescences terminal, multi-flowered, globose, 4-6 cm wide, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe broadly ovate-elliptic, papyraceous, apex subobtuse-acute, 3 cm long, 2 cm wide; floral bracts not seen. Flowers upright, glabrous. Median sepal ovate-elliptic, apex obtuse, 9-11.3 mm long, 3-4 mm wide. Lateral sepals ovate-elliptic to oblique, fused at the back of the spur, connate in the basal 1/3, enclosing the spur. Petal oblong-elliptic, apex obtuse, 9-11.3 mm long, 3-3.8 mm wide. Lip adnate to the base of the column, elliptic-subquadrate, 2.55 mm long, 2.55 mm wide; epichile obtuse; hypochile  spurred; spur ellipsoid, apex obtuse, 3.3 mm long, 2.6 mm wide. Column cylindrical, with narrow lateral wing apically, basal 1/3 connate with spur, 3.3 mm long; clinandrium not seen; stelidia not seen.  Anther not seen; rostellum not seen; stigma not seen; pollinia not seen; viscidium not seen. Ovary cylindrical, 6-ribbed, 10 mm long. Capsule not seen.

Distribution – Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.

Habitat and Ecology - Epiphyte in montane forest around Lake Loluru. Altitude 1775-2010 m. Flowering in July in the wild.

Notes -  1. Flowers bright cream with pink-red lip.

2. The epithet bougainvilleana refers to  the location where the type was found, Bougainville island.

3. Specimen observed: Schodde & Craven 3834 

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