Glomera similis J.J.Sm. in L.S.Gibbs, Phytogeogr. Fl. Arfak Mts. (1917) 113
Type: Gibbs 5975 (holo BM)
Stems elongated, laxly branched, laterally compressed, in cross-section elliptic, part seen 43 cm long; internodes to 3 cm long, 0.23 cm wide, becoming smaller upwards. Leaves erect-patent, linear, 6.5-8.25 by 0.5 cm, at the base somewhat narrowed, half-clasping the stem, when dried coriaceous, gradually slightly narrowed towards the apex, strongly unequally bidentate, with one tooth very short, acute, the longest tooth obtuse, 0.3-0.6 cm long, mid-rib when dried grooved above, obtusely prominent below; Sheaths tubular, especially in the apical part in front verrucose, in the basal part almost smooth, at the apex opposite the blade with an appressed, triangular, obtuse tooth. Inflorescence reflexed, subracemose, secund, c. 9-flowered. Peduncle together with the slightly elongated rachis 0.85 cm long. Spathe at the base very shortly tubular, tightly clasping the peduncle, orbicular-ovate, acuminate, acute, especially in the basal part strongly concave, c. 11-nerved, 1.1 by 0.85 cm. Floral bracts oblong-subelliptic, acuminate, acutely mucronate, dorsally near the apex, concave, 3-nerved, membranous, 0.57 by 0.27 cm, the lower bracts intermediate between the upper ones and the spathe. Flower 0.7 cm long. Median sepal shortly adnate to the lateral sepals, elliptic, rather obtuse, 3-nerved, 0.48 by almost 0.3 cm. Lateral sepals rather shortly connate, clasping the spur, obliquely ovate, rather obtuse, dorsally near the apex with a conical apiculum, 3-nerved, [free part] 0.46 cm long, in total 0.56 cm long, 0.36-0.38 cm wide; mentum saccate, subglobose, almost 0.2 cm long. Petals obliquely subrhombic, rather obtuse, 3-nerved, 0.44 by 0.24 cm. Lip shortly adnate to the column, to the apex of the ovary 0.3 cm long, including the spur 0.48 cm long; blade concave, at the apex with recurved margin, convex, 7-nerved, when flattened nearly semiorbicular, at the base abruptly transversely thickened, 0.2 by 0.3 cm; spur making an acute angle with the ovary, obliquely oblong, obtuse, 0.3 cm long. Column above the base slightly incurved, dorsally convex, including the anther 0.16 cm. long, at the apex broadly trapezium-shaped, broadly obtuse, retuse; clinandrium concave, almost entire; auricles triangular, subacute. Anther making a straight angle with the column, cucullate, 0.12 cm wide, transversely elliptic, at the apex truncate-rounded, not recurved, margins membranous, connective at the base conical-raised, in the basal part channelled. Rostellum broad, crescent-shaped, broadly retuse. Stigma transverse, crescent-shaped, with the lower margin strongly elongated and incurved. Ovary curved, 3-grooved. (After Smith, 1917).
Colours: Flower white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in upper montane forest. Altitude 2100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 322-127M.JPG
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.