Glomera rhombea J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 2 (1911) 5
Type: Kock, de 34
Epiphyte. Stems close together, slender, sparsely branched, 2.5 cm long (or longer), internodes 0.14-0.75 cm long, 0.05 cm diam. Leaves patent, small, at the base half-twisted, ovate to oblong-ovate, unequally obtuse or somewhat acute, above on either side of the median groove longitudinally convex, transversely rugulose, convex below, fleshy, 0.5-0.73 cm long, 0.18-0.23 cm, wide; sheaths surpassing the internodes, tubular, angular, verrucose, apex long appressed somewhat crisped brownish fimbriate. Inflorescence terminal, 1-flowered, with 2 bracts. Floral bracts clasping the ovary, cucullate, in the basal part tubular, obtusely apiculate, membranous, outer one 0.57 cm, inner one 0.47 cm long. Flower rather large, 1.15 cm diam.. Sepals and petals with recurved apex. Median sepal ovate, acute, margin at the apex somewhat incurved, convex, 3-nerved, 1 cm long, 0.45 cm wide. Lateral sepals at the base long connate to near the apex of the spur, clasping the whole spur, but front margins not adhering, obliquely oblong-ovate, apex conduplicate, apiculate, at the base 3-nerved, 0.9 cm long, 0.43 cm wide, connate part 0.23 long, strongly concave. Petals obliquely broadly rhombic, obtuse, convex, 3-nerved at the base, 0.9 cm long, 0.56 cm wide. Lip slightly surpassing the column and at the base adnate to it, strongly concave, short spurred, indistinctly 3-lobed, to the apex of ovary 0.35 cm long, to the apex of the spur about as long, blade porrect, forming an almost right angle with the spur, at the base separated from the spur by a transverse thickening, when flattened in outline ovate 0.33 cm long 0.28 cm wide, lateral lobes erect, shortly broadly rounded, mid-lobe porrect, separated from the lateral lobes by a broadly obtuse angle, triangular, obtuse, inside with a small longitudinal rib, below on either side of the groove longitudinally convex, 0.13 cm long, at the base 0.18 cm wide; spur making an acute angle with the ovary, laterally compressed, obliquely obovate, to the apex of the ovary 0.24 cm long, apex 0.17 cm high. Column about 0.2 cm long, clinandrium minutely denticulate, filament tooth-like, auricles elongate, slightly surpassing the anther and the rostellum, parallel, linear, somewhat falcate. Anther cucullate, apex elongated, in outline oblong-ovate, apex 2-lobed, in the basal part conical-thickened, at the back concave, 0.14 cm long. Pollinia 4, compressed, oblong-elliptic. Rostellum bifid, lobes triangular. Stigma obliquely funnel-shaped, margin especially in the basal part strongly elongated, recurved, cucullate-incurved. Ovary 3-grooved, glabrous, 0.34 cm long. (After Smith, 1913)
Colours: Flower white, lip with red apex.
Habitat: Terrestrial in upper montane forest in exposed positions. Altitude 1250-1900 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, March, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 322-115M.JPG
Cultivation: Cool growing terrestrial, keep in light position.