Glomera subnivalis J.M.H.Shaw, Orchid Rev. 124(1314, Suppl.) (2016) 37
Type: Brass 9212 (holo L; iso BRI)
Synonyms:
Scrambling, much branched, epiphytic, 80 cm long herb. Stems slender, terete, but slightly compressed towards tip. Leaves erect, coriaceous, linear, glabrous, 1.4-2.3 by 0.1 cm, rounded, mid-rib grooved above, except for the apical part, the groove lined by 1 ridge on either side, underside rounded; sheaths warty, tubular, 0.4-2.5 cm long, ribbed, along apical margin with several unequal, often sigmoid, up to 0.2 cm long bristles, each scattered warty. Spathe and floral bract both glabrous, narrowly funnel-shaped, the floral bract slightly wider but otherwise similar to the spathe, 1.5 cm long, 0.5 cm wide, spathe rounded, floral bract finely apiculate, both many-nerved, mid-rib of spathe irregularly crenulate. Ovary cylindrical, 1.6 cm long, 3-sided with twin-ridges on each corner, glabrous. Median sepal glabrous, linear, ovate in basal part, 1.7 cm long, 0.3 cm wide, acute, at base 5-nerved, 9-nerved in higher parts. Lateral sepals glabrous, free, falcate, linear, ovate in basal part, 1.9 cm long, 0.3 cm wide, obliquely widened at base and with an oblong-ovate, 0.3 by 0.1 cm large, obtuse appendage, 3-nerved at base, 5-nerved in higher parts. Petals glabrous, elliptic-oblong, 1.6 by 0.2 cm, acute, 3-nerved at base, 5-nerved in higher parts. Lip adnate to base of column, free part when extended ovate, 3-lobed, 0.45 by 0.45 cm, truncate, 5-nerved, finely papillate in a narrow ovate patch on inside in apical, grooved part; spur glabrous, cylindrical, 1.3 cm long, slightly compressed, unequally 2-lobed at tip. Column short and stout, clinandrium irregularly lobed. Anther not seen. Capsule not seen. (After Van Royen, 1979).
Flowers green.
Epiphyte in rather open heavily mossy subalpine forest. Altitude 3225 m
Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Cool growing epiphyte.
August
Glomera subnivalis is similar ro Glomera grandiflora, G. franssenianum and G. salmonea but differs in the single tipped leaves and the green, noty brownosh or flesh-coloured flowers.
Glomera subnivalis is also similar to G. duffusa but that species has light green flowers and the leaves are 3-ribbed below.
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