Glomera hamadryas (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 15 (1908) 28
Basionym: Glossorhyncha hamadryas
Roots elongated, glabrous. Stems decumbent to pendulous, branching, terete, slightly compressed towards the apex, 25-35 cm long, branches sometimes rooting, many-leaved. Leaf sheaths about half as long as the leaf-blades, with raised veins, margin lacerate-ciliate. Leaves erect-patent, linear-ligulate, 1-3 by 0.15-0.25 cm, coriaceous, apex unequally bilobulate. Inflorescences terminal, 1-flowered, sessile. Floral bract cucullate, slightly longer than the ovary. Flower c. 1 cm across. Dorsal sepal oblong, 0.8 cm long, apex narrowly obtuse to acute. Lateral sepals subfalcate-oblong, in front towards the base a little widened, 0.7 cm long, apex apiculate; not cohering. Petals subfalcate, obovate-spatulate, 0.7 cm long, apex obtuse. Lip oblong, 0.35 cm long, spurred, apex narrowly obtuse; spur saccate, ovoid, half as long as the lip-blade, obtuse. Column short, clinandrium large; column-foot slightly elongated. Anther orbicular, apex ascending, narrowly obtuse. Pollinia obliquely oblanceolate. (After Schlechter, 1905, as Glossorhyncha hamadryas Schltr.).
Colours: Flower white, lip at apex with two blood-red spots.
Habitat: Epiphyte in hill and montane forest. Altitude 500-1800 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, July.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 322-63M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate-cool growing epiphyte, keep in shade.
Note: A very common orchid in the mountain forests of New Guinea. A careful and much needed revision of the genus Glomera will undoubtedly bring to light several additional synonyms.