Glomera kanke P.Royen, Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2 (1979) 514, fig. 178
Type: Schodde 1766 (holo L)
Small, bushy, branched, up to 13 cm high, epiphytic herb. Stems erect, slender. Leaves spreading-patent, coriaceous, glabrous, scabrous above, smooth below, elliptic-ovate, elliptic, or elliptic-oblong, (0.3-)0.5-1.5(-2) by (0.1-)0.25 cm, rounded and apiculate at tip, mid-rib grooved above, prominent below, margin thin, transparent, irregularly erose; sheaths cylindrical, 0.2-0.8 cm long, in older parts of stem up to 1.5 cm long, slightly widened at tip, compressed and slightly 2-crested, subtransversely truncate at tip, sparsely transversely rugose mainly in apical part, with scattered round warts in lower parts, if any, slightly ribbed. Inflorescence 4-7-flowered. Peduncles glabrous, stout, 0.1 cm long, compressed. Floral bracts ovate-orbicular, 0.85-1.6 by 0.7-1 cm, rounded, 3-nerved at base, 9-nerved in higher parts, with a few indistinct warts on outside. Floral bracts glabrous, broadly elliptic, 0.75-1.2 by 0.5-0.8 cm, subulate-acuminate, 3-nerved at base, 7-nerved in higher parts. Ovary glabrous, narrowly ovoid-oblong, 0.5 cm long, 3-sided. Flowers glabrous. Median sepal elliptic, 0.5 by 0.25 cm, obtuse, subulate-conoid just below tip on outside, 3-nerved. Lateral sepals up to 2/3 connate along lower margin, free part broadly triangular-ovate, 0.3 by 0.3 cm, subulate-conoid at tip, mentum oblong-conoid, oblique, 0.35 by 0.3 cm, subulate conoid at tip, mentum oblong-conoid, oblique, 0.35 by 0.3 cm, broadly truncate-rounded at tip, free part 5-nerved, mid-rib crested on outside near tip only. Petals spathulate or obovate, often oblique, 0.5 by 0.2 cm, sometimes lobed in apical half, 3-nerved in lower part, 5-nerved in apical part, rather obtuse. Lip heart-shaped, 0.02 by 0.02 cm, obtusely acuminate, 5-nerved; spur obliquely oblong-conoid, 0.4 by 0.2 cm. Column short and stout, curved, 0.02 by 0.015 by 0.01 cm. Stelidia ovate, 0.08-0.1 cm long, obtuse. Anther purple brown, kidney-shaped, 0.15 by 0.12 by 0.1 cm, 2-lobed, dorsally umbonate, retuse at either end, apical margin membranous. Capsule trigonous, ellipsoid, 0.6-0.7 by 0.3 cm. (After Van Royen, 1979).
Colours: Flowers white, cream or pale greenish cream, tip of lip (usually) red or pink.
Habitat: Epiphyte in upper montane forest in exposed positions. Altitude 2500-3740 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, April, May, June, July, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 322-71M.JPG
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte, keep in light position.