Glomera appendiculoides Ormerod

Glomera appendiculoides Ormerod, Malesian Orchid J. 16:57(2015) –Type: T.M. Reeve 1717 (holotype AMES; isotype K, LAE, NSW)

 

Growth form Epiphyte. Rhizome creeping, internodes 0.4-1.9 cm long. Roots cylindrical, 0.03-0.1 cm thick. Stem cylindrical, slender, 7.5-23 by 0.08-0.2 cm thick across the leaf sheaths, in lower half often rooting from nodes, above basal third laxly leafy, in upper part not branched or few-branched (branchlets to 12.7 cm long), internodes 0.3-0.7 cm long. Leaf patent, ovate to ovate elliptic, thin, leathery; apex acute; lamina 0.35-1.1 cm long, 0.2-0.55 cm wide; sheath tubular, truncate, opposite leaf lamina with a thinner membranaceous section, densely warty; apex without tooth, with glabrous margin. Inflorescences terminal, semi-globose, densely 7-many-flowered, 1-1.5 by 1.5-2 cm, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe elliptic-suborbicular, 0.75 cm long, 0.6 cm wide, apex subacuminate; floral bracts not seen. Flowers upright, glabrous. Median sepal oblong-elliptic to obovate-elliptic, 0.45-0.6 cm long, 0.24-0.29 cm wide, apex obtuse, minutely thickened, 3-nerved. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-ellitic, apex acute, 4-5 nerved each, base form synsepal 0.53-0.6 cm long, 0.68-0.75 cm wide, apex deeply retuse, enclosed the spur 0.23-0.3 cm long. Petal oblong to oblonglanceolate, 0.43-0.55 cm long, 0.18-0.19 cm wide, apex obtuse, 3-nerved. Lip entire, widely ovate, 7-nerved, 0.095-0.1 cm long, 0.18 cm wide when not spread; epichile subacute; hypochile spurred; spur oblongoid, 0.23-0.29 cm long, 0.17-0.175 cm wide, apex obtuse. Column 0.175-0.195 cm long; clinandrium  deltate to lanceolate with acute apex; stelidia not seen. Anther not seen; rostellum not seen; stigma not seen; pollinia not seen; viscidium not seen. Ovary subcylindric to clavate, 0.45 cm long. Capsule not seen.

Distribution – Papua New Guinea.

Habitat and Ecology - Epiphyte in montane forest of Komanga, Paiela Census Division, Porgera District. Altitude 1700-2135 m. Flowering time September to November in the wild.

Notes -  1. Flower white, lip tip red to orange.

2. The epithet  appendiculoides  refers to the habitus of the plant that similar to genus Appendicula.

3. Specimen observed: T.M. Reeve 1717

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