Glomera brevipetala J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 2 (1911) 4
Type: Kock, de 40
Terrestrial. Stems branched, slender, in cross-section transversely elliptic, leafy, internodes 0.23 cm long, 0.06 cm wide. Leaves small, patent, sessile, oblong-ovate, apex somewhat contracted, obtuse, above convex with a longitudinal grooved and regularly densely prominently striate, below obtusely convex, very minutely furfuraceous-finely punctate, thick fleshy, 0.35-0.7 cm long, 0.15-0.3 cm wide; sheaths much surpassing the internodes, tubular, angular, strongly verrucose, warts at the apex furfuraceous-impressed, not fimbriate. Inflorescence terminal, 1-flowered, with two bracts. Floral bracts clasping the ovary (not the spur), cucullate, tubular at the base only, strongly laterally compressed long acuminate, obtusely keeled, nerves 8, prominent outside, outside sparsely very minutely furfuraceous-finely punctate, outer bract somewhat thick, 0.63 cm long, inner one thinner, 0.55 cm long. Flowers small, widely opening, 0.72 cm wide, 0.83 cm long. Sepals outside very sparsely furfuraceous-finely punctate. Median sepal subhorizontal, in the middle weakly recurved, subovate, very long subulate-acuminate, concave, 3-nerved, in total 0.56 cm long, 0.27 cm wide, acumen 0.18 cm long. Lateral sepals along the front margin at the base obliquely rounded-dilated, shortly connate, strongly concave, clasping the spur, strongly obliquely ovate, very long subulate-acuminate 3-nerved, 0.58 cm long, to the apex of the mentum 0.95 cm long, 0.45 cm wide; mentum short, pointing backwards, laterally compressed, making an angle with the ovary, rounded-truncate, dorsally gibbose, 0.34 cm long. Petals smaller than the sepals, apex recurved, 5-angled, apex narrowed, narrowly obtuse, minutely obtusely apiculate, 3-nerved, about 0.4 cm long, 0.24 cm wide. Lip small, not clasping the and at the base adnate to it, weakly 3-lobed, spurred, up to the apex of ovary 0.2 cm long, blade fleshy, lateral lobes patent, small, somewhat rounded, mid-lobe decurved, triangular, almost obtuse, with a small transverse rib separated from the basal part of the lip, 0.08 cm long, 0.13 cm wide; spur rather large, with the ovary making an acute angle, laterally compressed, subobovate, apex in front somewhat dilated, obliquely rounded, to the apex of ovary 0.27 cm long, apex 0.76 cm wide (high). Column dorsally convex, to the apex of the rostellum 0.18 cm long, clinandrium dentate, filament oblong, truncate, auricles triangular, acutely acuminate, slightly shorter than the rostellum. Rostellum rather large, transversely quadrangular, truncate, convex. Lower margin of the stigma elongated, almost parallel with the rostellum, broadly rounded, somewhat incurved, together with the rostellum bilabiate. Column-foot distinct, making an obtuse angle with the upper part of the spur, 0.1 cm long. Ovary obconical, twisted, with 3 conspicuous and 3 thin grooves, very sparsely and minutely furfuraceous-finely punctate, 0.25 cm long. (After Smith, 1913)
Colours: (Not recorded for the type.) Flower creamy white, lip green with two red spots.
Habitat: Terrestrial in upper montane forest in shaded positions. Altitude 1920-2450 m.
Flowering time in the wild: March, April, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 322-23M.JPG
Cultivation: Cool growing terrestrial, keep in shade.
Note: Should be compared with Glomera glomeroides (Schltr.) J.J.Sm.