Orchids of New Guinea

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Glomera tenuis

Glomera tenuis (Rolfe) J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 12, 1 (1913) 29

Type: Giulianetti s.n. (New Guinea, Mt. Scratchley 12200 feet)

Synonyms:

Giulianettia tenuis Rolfe, Hooker's Icon. Pl. 4, 7 (1899) t. 2616
- Type: Giulianetti s.n. (New Guinea, Mt. Scratchley 12200 feet)
Glossorhyncha tenuis (Rolfe) P.Royen, Folia Geobot. Phytotax. 9, 1 (1974) 84

Basionym: Giulianettia tenuis

Epiphytic. Stems branching, fragments described 7.5-10 cm long. Leaf sheaths striate, verrucose. Leaves linear, subterete, 1.25-2.1 cm long, apex subobtuse. Inflorescences terminal, 1-flowered. Floral bract and spathe oblong, c. 1.25 cm long, subacute, involute, striate. Median sepal patent, linear-lanceolate, 1.2 cm long, apex acute. Lateral sepals patent, linear-lanceolate, 1.25 cm long, extended at the base, below the spur connate into a 0.3 cm long and wide free blade, apex acute. Petals linear, 1.05 cm long, apex acute. Lip broadly cordate-ovate, 0.3 cm long, spurred, concave, subobtuse; spur cylindrical, 0.95-1.05 cm long, obtuse. Column thick, 0.21 cm long.
(After Rolfe, 1899).

Colours:

Not recorded for the type.

Habitat:

Epiphyte in subalpine forest.

Distribution:

Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution New Guinea:

Papua New Guinea. See map

Cultivation:

Cool growing epiphyte.

Flowering time in the wild:

May, September.

Classification:

Family Orchidaceae
Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Arethuseae
Subtribe Coelogyninae
Genus Glomera
Section Uniflorae
Species Glomera tenuis

Literature:

Royen, P. van, Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2 (1979) 597 [p.p.?, excl. fig. 208 = G. keysseri], as Glossorhyncha tenuis (Rolfe) P.Royen

Notes:

The original drawing of this species, in Hooker's Icon. Pl., is almost certainly erroneous in that it shows a free, forward projecting spur, quite unlike any other species of Glomera. Normally the spur is held close to the ovary, and in sect. Uniflorae it is invariably hidden within the spathe. We suspect that the draughtsman has taken some liberties here.