Glossorhyncha tortuosa P.Royen, Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2 (1979) 604, fig. 211
Type: Hartley 11312 (holo CANB; iso L)
Tall, bushy, erect, 50-80 cm high epiphytic herb. Stems glabrous, slender, somewhat flexuose. Leaves patent, coriaceous, glabrous, linear but ovate in basal part, 2.2-3.5 by 0.19-0.23 cm, acute, mid-rib prominent on either side, on underside only with 2 prominent nerves on either side of mid-rib; sheaths tubular, 1.8-2.8 cm long, slightly ribbed, glabrous, smooth, tip not setose-fimbriate. Spathe glabrous, obliquely obovoid, 1.05-1.1 by 0.25-0.3 cm, apiculate, 7-nerved. Floral bract glabrous, ellipsoid, 0.55-0.6 cy 0.15-0.2 cm, apiculate, without nerves. Ovary glabrous, slightly sigmoid, oblong-ellipsoid, 0.65-0.7 by 0.12-0.15 cm, 6-ribbed with the ribs in 3 pairs. Median sepal glabrous, narrowly ovate, 0.75-0.8 by 0.18-0.22 cm, obtuse, flexuose with the acute tip curved backwards, margin strongly revolute, 7-nerved. Lateral sepals glabrous, free, obliquely ovate, 0.95-1.02 by 0.28-0.33 cm, at base oblique with an oblong, 0.2 by 0.25 cm large, obtuse appendage, tip of sepals conoid-apiculate, 8-nerved. Lateral petals glabrous, obliquely oblong-ovate, 0.82-0.86 by 0.12-0.16 cm, acute, 5-nerved. Lip adnate to base of column, free part expanded triangular, 0.8 by 0.8 cm, acute, at right angle to spur, 9-nerved, glabrous, spur glabrous, clavate, 0.9 cm long, in apical half abruptly curved towards ovary, laterally flattened, obtuse. Column short, slightly curved, 0.15 by 0.1 cm, clinandrium 2-dentate. Anther and capsule not seen. (After Van Royen, 1979).
Colours: Leaf-sheaths in lower parts of stems often dark purple, otherwise brownish green. Flowers white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in upper montane forest. Altitude 3050 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 325-104M.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.