Glomera minjensis (P.Royen) J.M.H.Shaw

Glomera minjensis (P.Royen) J.M.H. Shaw, Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2:79 (1979)

Glossorhyncha minjensis P.Royen, Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2: 579 (1979)-- Type: Pullen 236 (holotype CANB; isotype L)

 

Growth form Epiphyte, erect, slender, unbranched, 8-65 cm high. Rhizome ca. 1 mm in diameter. Roots filiform, flexible, glabrous, seen part 5 cm long. Stem cylindrical, glabrous, proliferously leafed, entirely covered by leaf sheaths. Leaf linear-ovate or linear-elliptic, erect-patent, coriaceous, glabrous, midrib grooved above, mainly in apical part with one raised nerve on either side bordering the groove, prominent below; apex obliquely obtuse, flattened;  base narrowed; lamina 0.8-2.6  cm long, 0.15-0.2 cm wide; sheath tight clasping, tubular, with few warts especially in the apical part, ribbed; apex toothed, with bristled margin, bristles 0.05-0.2 cm long. Inflorescences terminal, one-flowered, when young enveloped by a spathe. Spathe ellipsoid-tubular, apiculate, with few warts, up to 9-nerved, 0.9 cm long, 0.25-0.4 cm wide; floral bracts ellipsoid-tubular, apiculate, glabrous, 1-nerved, 0.6-0.7 cm long, 0.25-0.4 cm wide. Flowers upright, erect-patent, glabrous. Median sepal elliptic to slightly obovate-elliptic, apex rounded, apiculate, glabrous, 5-6-nerved, 0.8-0.9 cm long, 0.35-0.4 cm wide. Lateral sepals free, obliquely ovate-elliptic, apex rounded, conoid-apiculate, 3-nerved at base, 5-nerved in higher part; base with appendages, ovate-triangular, rounded, 0.2-0.3 cm long, 0.2-0.3 cm wide. Petal obovate-spathulate, apex rounded or retuse, 6-7-nerved, glabrous outside, papillate inside, 0.95-1 cm long, 0.45-0.5 cm wide. Lip adnate to the column, free part broadly triangular-ovate, 5-nerved at base, 9-nerved in higher part, 0.35-0.5 cm long, 0.4-0.6 cm wide; epichile 3-lobed, broadly acuminate, with brown glands at tip and margins only; hypochile spurred; spur conoid, glabrous,apex rounded 0.4-0.45 cm long, 0.2-0.25 cm wide. Column stout, 0.25-0.3 cm long, 0.15-0.2 cm wide; clinandrium 3-lobed; stelidia not seen. Anther not seen; rostellum not seen; pollinia not seen; stigma not seen; viscidium not seen. Ovary clavate, glabrous, 5-ribbed, 0.7-0.8 cm long, 0.12-0.17 cm wide. Capsule not seen.

Distribution – Papua New Guinea.

Habitat and Ecology – Epiphyte in upper montane forest along Minj River. Altitude 3414. Flowering in July in the wild.

Notes - 1. Flowers white.

2. The epithet minjensis refers to the Minj River where the type specimen was collected.

3. Specimen observed: Pullen 236 (L 0064489).

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