Glossorhyncha altigena P.Royen, Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2 (1979) 633, fig. 223
Type: Balgooy, van 628 (holo L)
Large, densely tufted, much branched, erect, terrestrial or epiphytic herb with drooping branches. Stems terete, glabrous. Leaf patent, coriaceous, glabrous, linear, ovately widened at base, 0.9-2 by 0.1-0.4 cm, obliquely and unequally 2-lobed at tip, each lobe obtuse, mid-rib and the 4 lateral nerves prominent on either side; sheaths 0.4-2.8 cm, many-ribbed, warty mainly on the blade-opposed side, along apical margin with a few 0.1-0.2 cm long bristles, each sparsely warty. Spathe scattered warty mainly on the ribs, narrowly obovoid, 1.5 by 0.4 cm, subacute, 7-ribbed, mid-rib crested. Floral bract similar to spathe but thinner, 1-nerved, less warty. Ovary glabrous, oblong-conoid, curved, 1.3-1.7 cm long, 3-winged, each wing a double one, between these double ridges 3 slightly developed single ribs. Median sepal glabrous, narrowly oblong-ovate, 1.5 by 0.35 cm, subacute, 3-nerved at base, 9-nerved in part, falcate, 1.7 by 0.3 cm, rather obtuse, conoid-apiculate, widened at base, 3-nerved at base, 8-nerved in higher parts. Petals glabrous, linear, 1.5 by 0.25 cm, rather obtuse, 3-nerved at base, 5-nerved in higher parts. Lip adnate to base of column, free part ovate, 0.2 by 0.3 cm, rounded, finely papillate on either side of thickened median lobe, 5-nerved; spur cylindrical, 1.2 cm long slightly flattened, obtuse. Column short and stout, 0.35 by 0.2 by 0.25 cm, clinandrium crenulate-dentate. Anther not seen. Capsule brownish purple or purple, 2 by 0.5 cm, 6-ribbed with 3 ribs much stronger developed. (After Van Royen, 1979).
Colours: Flowers flesh coloured.
Habitat: Terrestrial in upper montane forest in exposed positions. Altitude 3600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 325-7M.JPG
Cultivation: Cool growing terrestrial, keep in light position.
Note: The genus Glossorhyncha is here considered to be a synonym of Glomera. For the present species a name under Glomera is not yet available; it may be a species already described under a different name.