Glossorhyncha scopulata

Glossorhyncha scopulata P.Royen, Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2 (1979) 586, fig. 204

Type: Brass 9042 (holo BM; iso BRI, L)

Erect, broom-like, in apical parts slightly pendent, much branched, up to 40 cm high, terrestrial herb. Stems glabrous, in lower part straight, flexuose in upper parts and branched with many up to 10 cm long, leafy branches. Leaves erect-patent, coriaceous, glabrous, narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, 1-1.5 by 0.1 cm, seemingly subulate, up to 0.2 cm wide when expanded, very shortly obtuse-conoid-apiculate, mid-rib and 2 lateral nerves prominent above, not visible below; sheaths sparsely transversely rugose in apical parts, scattered and very warty for the rest, 0.5-1.5 cm long, at tip with few, unequal, glabrous, 0.03 cm long bristles, these later caducous, 5-ribbed. Spathe glabrous, oblong-obovoid, inflated, 0.8 by 0.3 cm, retuse, both lobes apiculate, 2-nerved. Floral bract glabrous, widely tubular, 0.5 cm long, acute, without nerves. Ovary glabrous, oblong, 0.5 cm long, 6-grooved. Median sepal finely papillate on either side, elliptic-obovate, 0.65 by 0.3 cm, acute, 5-nerved. Lateral sepals finely papillate on either side, free from each other, obliquely oblong, 0.85 by 0.3 cm, rounded and apiculate at tip, at base with an ovate, 0.2 by 0.2 cm large, rounded appendage, 5-nerved. Petals finely papillate on either side, slightly obliquely oblong-elliptic, 0.6 by 0.3 cm, rounded, 5-nerved. Lip adnate to base of column, free part rhombic, 0.4 by 0.4 cm, 3-lobed, obtuse, 7-nerved, mid-rib prominent on inside, grooved on outside, densely papillate on either side but with numerous larger and darker papillae along mid-rib on inside and along apical margin, less so towards centre and corners of lip in lower half; spur subulate-conoid, 0.35 cm long, retuse. Column curved, 0.2 by 0.1 by 0.1 cm, margin of clinandrium entire. Anther cucullate, 0.1 by 0.1 by 0.07 cm, rounded at tip, thickened and upcurved, base retuse, connective umbonate at base. Pollinia pear-shaped, 0.03 cm long. Capsule not seen. (After Van Royen, 1979).

Colours: Flowers white.

Habitat: Terrestrial in upper montane forest in exposed positions. Altitude 3225 m.

Flowering time in the wild: Not known

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 325-91M.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.

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