Benthamia flavida Schltr.

(Figs 42; 43)

Beihefte zum Botanischen Centralblatt 34(2) (Schlechter 1916: 302).

Benthamia perrieri Schltr., Beihefte zum Botanischen Centralblatt 34(2) (Schlechter 1916: 302).Type: Madagascar • Vakinankaratra, Antsirabe, marais tourbeux; alt. 2000 m; II.1914; H. Perrier 8081; holotype: P [P00094490]!.

Benthamia cinnabarina sensu H.Perrier, Bulletin de la Société botanique de France 81 (Perrier 1934: 38). Perrier cited a wrong type: Trabonjy; V.1880; J.M. Hildebrandt 3450; P[P00094480]!, K!, which is indeed Benthamia flavida, but the basionym Habenaria cinnabarina Rolfe is referable to Cynorkis cinnabarina (Rolfe) Hermans & P. J.Cribb; the type is in K, it is a specimen cultivated by Lewis & Co in England in 1893.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Madagascar • Vakinankaratra, Cime du Famoizankova, au nord d’Antsirabe; 19°39’32”S, 47°03’48”E; alt. 2200 m; V.1912; H. Perrier 11386; holotype: P [P00094481]!.

ETYMOLOGY. — Derived from Latin « flavus », yellow, referring to the yellowish colour of the flower.

PHENOLOGY. — January to May.

DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY. — Madagascar. Except for one locality in the north, mainly in montane grasslands in the central plateaux, in dry and open places, but sometimes also in wet areas, from 1200 m to 2200 m (Fig. 44).

CONSERVATION. — This plant is very common in Madagascar and can therefore be considered of Least Concern (LC). It was considered NT by IUCN in 2008, under the name Benthamia cinnabarina . See https://doi.org/10.2305/ IUCN.UK.2013-1. RLTS. T44392752 A44475517.en.

ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — Madagascar • Sine loc.; R. Baron 5193; P [P00094484]!, K ! • sine loc.; R. Baron 5245; P [P00094485] ! • sine loc.; Bojer et al. s.n.; P [P00094486] ! • Nord Betsileo; I.1881; J.M. Hildebrandt 3975; W [R14942, R8645]!, WU, G, M, BM [BM000034589] ! • Central, North Betsileo; I.1881; comm. C. Rensch, J.M. Hildebrandt s.n.; K ! • Vakinankaratra, mont Ibity au sud d’Antsirabe; 20°05’44”S, 47°00’12”E; alt. 2000 m; II.1914; H. Perrier 8097; P [P00094487, P00094488] ! • Haute Matsiatra, massif d’Andringitra; alt. 2000 m; IV.1921; H. Perrier 13614; P [P00094492]!, K ! • Haute Matsiatra, massif d’Andringitra; alt. 2200 m; II.1922; H. Perrier 14578; P [P00094482, P00094491] ! • Amoron’i Mania, environs d’Ambatofinandrahana; alt. 1600-1800 m; 19.II.1938; R. Decary 13074; P [P00094489] ! • Sofia, de la haute Maevarano au bas Sambirano par Bealanana et la haute Sandrakoto; alt. 1400-1700 m; II.1951; H. Humbert et al. 25402; P [P00692280]!, TAN!, K ! • Diana, Betainkankana, Ankaizina; 14°37’S, 48°43’E; V.1952; J. Bosser 2560; P [P00094483, P00692223] ! • Amoron’i Mania, montagnes à l’ouest d’Itremo; 20°34’12”S, 46°34’55”E; 1955; H. Humbert 30046; P [P00692281]!, another specimen Humbert 30046 is Tylostigma nigrescens Schltr. or Tylostigma perrieri Schltr . • Amoron’i Mania, montagnes à l’ouest d’Itremo; 20°34’12”S, 46°34’55”E; 1955; H. Humbert 30050; P [P00692283]!, TAN ! • Amoron’i Mania, montagnes à l’ouest d’Itremo; 20°34’12”S, 46°34’55”E; alt. 1500-1700 m; 1955; H. Humbert 30055; P [P00692284 second from left only, P00692285 left only, P00692287]!, MO [3248465] ! • Haute Matsiatra, Sendrisoa, Ambalavao, Antanifotsy; 22°13’S, 46°55’E; 5.II.1955; C. Rakotovao 7303; P [P00692316] ! • Amoron’i Mania, route d’Ambositra à Ambatofinandrahana; 20°40’03”S, 47°08’03”E; III.1960; M. Keraudren 148; P [P00692288 plant in the middle is Benthamia glaberrima] ! • Amoron’i Mania, Soanieranana, col d’Antoetra, district d’Ambositra; 20°46’27”S, 47°19’16”E; 21.III.1960; M. Peltier 2229; P [P00692293, P00692294] ! • Amoron’i Mania, Ambositra, Anjoma; III.1960; J. & M. Peltier 2173; P [P01805103]!, TAN! plant on the left • Amoron’i Mania, route d’Ambatofinandrahana, à 10 km d’Ivato; 20°40’03”S, 47°08’03”E; II.1963; F. Chabonis s.n.; P [P00692269] ! • Atsimo-Andrefana, environs de Betroka, région de Tuléar; 23°16’20”S, 46°05’58”E; II.1963; J. Bosser 17387; P [P00692239] ! • PK300, RN7; IV.1963; J. Bosser 16815; P [P00692237] ! • PK300, RN7; VIII.1963; J. Bosser 17553; P [P00692240] ! • Haute Matsiatra, Andringitra; IV.1964; J. Bosser 19508; P [P00692254] ! • Amoron’i Mania, massif de l’Itremo; 20°34’12”S, 46°34’55”E; IV.1964; J. Bosser 19596; P [P00692256, P00692257] ! • Amoron’i Mania, 10 km route Ivato, route d’Ambatofinandrahana; 20°40’03”S, 47°08’03”E; IV.1964; J. Bosser 19599; P [P00692260]! plant on the left, the two others are Tylostigma • Haute Matsiatra, 25 km SW of Fianarantsoa; 5.III.1969; W. Rauh 22258; HEID [HEID740739, HEID740740, HEID740741, HEID740742, HEID740743, specimens in alcohol] ! • Vakinankaratra, Mt. Ibity; 6.V.1970; J. Bosser 20258; P [P00692266] ! • Amoron’i Mania, Morondava Ambatofinandrahana road, Col d’Itremo; 20˚40’S, 46˚35’E; alt. 1600 m; III.1971; D.J. Mabberley 763; K!, TAN ! • Amoron’i Mania, near Morondava-Ambatofinandrahana road RN35, Col d’Itremo; 20°40’S, 46°35’E; III.1971; D.J. Mabberley 770; K ! • Analamanga, Angavokely; 5.III.1988; B. Pettersson et al. 222; P [P02115318]!, K [spirit K55125.000] ! • Analamanga, Angavokely; 22.III.1988; B. Pettersson et al. 282; P [P02115317] ! • Amoron’i Mania, Antoetra village; 20°46’27”S, 47°19’16”E; alt. 1710 m; V.1993; C.H. Jongkind et al. 870; K [K000624472]!, BR [BR0000005242719]!, MO!, TAN ! • Fianarantsoa province, SW of Ivato, off RN7, about 9 km on Ambatofinandrahana road; 20°40’03”S, 47°08’03”E; 1994; J. Hermans 3519; K ! • Amoron’i Mania, Itremo, près du col; 20°34’28”S, 46°34’57”E; alt. 1710 m; 19.IV.1995; D.J. Du Puy M912; P [P00059608]!, K!, K [spirit SPC-72244.000], TAN ! • Highlands, cultivated plant, found in bog; 1995; J. Hermans 2740; K ! • Amoron’i Mania, Ambatofinandrahana; 1998; J. Hermans 5047; K ! • Haute Matsiatra, Andringitra foothills, near the village of Soavihiny; 22°06’08”S, 46°47’04”E; V.2001; J. Hermans 5240; K ! • Haute Matsiatra, Andringitra foothills, near village of Soavihiny; 22°04’54”S, 46°46’28”E; alt. 1506 m; V.2001; J. Hermans 5245; K ! • Amoron’i Mania, road towards Ambatofinandrahana, Inselberg a few km before Anjomam Ankona; 20°40’11”S, 47°07’19”E; IV.2001; alt. 1548 m; J. Hermans 5256; K ! • Amoron’i Mania, near Ambatofinandrahana; 20°40’03”S, 47°08’03”E; alt. 1500 m; 2001; J. Hermans 3381; K ! • Vakinankaratra, Antsirabe, Mt. Ibity; 20°05’07”S, 47°01’06”E; alt. 2010 m; II.2003; T. Andriamihajarivo 95; P [P00692192]!, MO [MO3022646]!, TAN ! • Haute Matsiatra, Ambalavao, réserve d’Anja; 21°50’10”S, 46°50’58”E; alt. 1171 m; 22.III.2006; J.N. Labat 3656; P [P00533700] ! • Vakinankaratra, Mt. Ibity, Ankobohy; 20°04’19”S, 47°00’33”E; II.2007; T. Ranarivelo et al. 463; K ! • Ihorombe, commune Iarintsena, Anja, mont Amboalandy; 21°51’08”S, 46°50’18”E; 1173 m; 16.III.2010; Rajaonary et al. 70; P [P06773265] ! • Haute Matsiatra, Ambalavao, Iarintsana, Anja; 21°50’44”S, 46°49’55”E; alt. 1275 m; 16.III.2010; Razafindraibe et al. 290; P [P06796928]!, TAN ! • Ihorombe, inselberg Bonnet du pape, fokontany Ifanadana, commune Zazafotsy, district Ihosy, RN7; 22°00’23”S, 46°21’42”E; III.2010, L. Ramandimbisoa et al. 119; P [P06773267]! and samples in alcohol • Amoron’i Mania, Ivato, Inselberg à 11.7 km d’Ivato vers la route d’Ambatofinandrahana; 20°39’55”S, 47°07’49”E; alt. 1542 m; 24.III.2010; Rakotoarivelo et al. 292; P [P06797815] ! • Amoron’i Mania, Ambatofinandrahana, Itremo; 20°34’36”S, 46°35’06”E; alt. 1556 m; 3.V.2010; Ralimanana RLI1450; K [K000751569]!, P [P00939974]!, TAN ! • Amoron’i Mania, Ambatofinandrahana, Itremo, Ambatoantrano; 20°33’55”S, 46°34’54”E; 4.V.2010; S.E. Rakotoarisoa et al. 695; K [K000664251]!, P [P00939969]!, MO!, TAN!, TEF!, SNGF ! • Analamanga, Carion, inselberg Maharidaza; 47°43’39”S, 18°53’30”E; alt. 1501 m; 6.III.2011; N. Ravololomanana 222; P [P06796775]!, MO [MO3022632]!, TAN ! • Amoron’i Mania, Antoetra, on inselberg; 20°46’27”S, 47°19’16”E; 14.II.2015; alt. 1676 m; A. & C. Sieder et al. L6803; WU! spirit material • Amoron’i Mania, Antoetra, inselberg; 20°46’27”S, 47°19’16”E; V.2018; J. Hermans 8255; K !.

NOTES

The leaves are generally basal and alternate, but this is not the case for all specimens, e.g. Bosser 2560 (P) from the north, which is in a disjunct area. This needs to be clarified from fresh material since plants with unusual patterns of leaves often occur in marshy soils (e.g. in Ambondrombe and Itremo).

Specimen H. Perrier 113 cited by Schlechter in the protologue is an alternative numbering of H. Perrier 11386, which was sent to Schlechter in Berlin and returned, so there is no doubt that this is the holotype.

See also: Schlechter (1930: t.10 n°39), Perrier (1939: 39, as Benthamia cinnabarina), Cribb & Hermans (2009: 46, as Benthamia cinnabarina, photograph is Benthamia africana), Bosser & Lecoufle (2011: 175, as Benthamia cinnabarina), Hervouet (2018: 163).

DESCRIPTION

Erect terrestrial herb, 15-35 cm tall. Tubers many, oblong. Stem 1.5-3 mm in diameter, with 4-5 leaves, basal or up to the middle, a little higher carrying a few sheaths gradually decreasing in size. Leaves, erect, alternate, linear or lanceolate-linear, 6-12 cm × 5-12 mm, acute. Rachis 5-16 cm long, several-flowered, but not very densely flowered, interrupted and spiral. Floral bracts narrow, lanceolate-linear, normally longer than the ovary, 6.5-12 × 1.1-2.5 mm. Ovary 2.5-7.5 × 0.8-2 mm. Flowers small, 4 mm without the ovary; sepals narrowly oblong, obtuse, 3-veined, dorsal sepal 3.5-4.9 × 0.6-1.5 mm, lateral sepals 2.7-4.8 × 0.3-1.2 mm; petals of the same length as sepals, wider, 3-5 × 0.9-1.5 mm, thickened and opaque in the upper half, a little expanded towards the middle of the front edge; lip oblong, 3.6-5.1 × 1.9-3.6 mm, trilobed, in the upper half, the lateral lobes very obtuse and about 2/3rd the size of the midlobe which is wider and around 1.5 mm long; spur scrotiform and a little flattened, as broad as high, 0.8-1.2 × 0.4-1.2 mm. Column 0.7-1.2 × 0.7-1 mm, anther shortly apiculate; auricles broadly spathulate, slightly shorter than the anther; rostellum with two very small lateral lobes and a larger obtuse midlobe, 0.1-0.2 mm long, upwards.