Glossorhyncha noroma

Glossorhyncha noroma P.Royen, Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2 (1979) 650, fig. 230

Type: Schodde 1767 (holo L; iso BRI)

Erect, much branched, slender epiphytic, up to 50 cm high herb with the branches slightly pendulous at their tips. Stems terete, glabrous. Leaf erect to erect-patent, coriaceous, glabrous, linear or sometimes ovately widened at base, 2.5-5.2 cm long, 0.2-0.5 cm wide, at tip strongly unequally 2-lobed and both lobes rounded, mid-rib grooved above, prominent below, lateral nerves 3-5 on either side of mid-rib, only prominent on underside, margin irregularly crenulate; sheaths warty mainly in apical half, tubular, 0.2-3 cm long, ribbed, apical margin with 0.1-0.2 cm long bristles, each glabrous, rarely with scattered papillae. Spathe scattered warty on outside on the ribs only, widely ellipsoid, 1.7 by 0.6 cm, obtusely apiculate, with 5 or more ribs, mid-rib slightly crested. Floral bract similar and as large as spathe. Ovary glabrous, narrowly clavate, 0.23 cm long, 3-sided, 3-winged, but each wing composed of 2 parallel ribs, glabrous. Median sepal glabrous, oblong-ovate, 1.9 by 0.65 cm, rounded, conoid-apiculate, 5-nerved at base, 9-nerved in higher parts. Lateral sepals glabrous, free, falcate ovate, 0.17 by 0.6 cm, obtuse, conoid-apiculate, 9-nerved, at base oblong-widened. Petals glabrous, oblong-ovate, 1.7 by 0.5 cm, rounded, conoid-apiculate, 5-nerved at base, 9-nerved in higher parts. Lip adnate to base of column, free part triangular, 3-lobed, 0.9 by 0.8 cm, obtuse, 7-nerved, mid-rib raised above, finely papillate on either side in an apical triangle; spur glabrous, narrowly clavate, 2.3 cm long, 2-lobed at tip, shallowly and broadly grooved above. Column short and stout, slightly curved, 0.3 by 0.35 by 0.25 cm, clinandrium crenulate-dentate, Anther and capsule not seen. (After Van Royen, 1979).

Colours: Flowers green.

Habitat: Epiphyte in upper montane forest. Altitude 3170 m.

Flowering time in the wild: Not known

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 325-69M.JPG

Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.

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.

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