Cynorkis falcata (Frapp.) Schltr.

Hervouet, Jean-Michel, Descourvières, Pascal, Hermans, Johan & Longou, Ludivine, 2025, Revision of the genus Benthamia A. Rich. (Orchidaceae, Orchidioideae, Habenariinae), Adansonia (3) 47 (11), pp. 171-249 : 246

publication ID

https://doi.org/10.5252/adansonia2025v47a11

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B87AB-FF99-FFAB-2208-F7282892C57A

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Cynorkis falcata (Frapp.) Schltr.
status

 

Cynorkis falcata (Frapp.) Schltr. View in CoL

Beihefte zum Botanischen Centralblatt 33 (2) ( Schlechter 1915: 400). — Hemiperis falcata Frapp. , in Cordemoy, Flore de la Réunion: 241 ( Cordemoy 1895).

Benthamia longecalceata H.Perrier , Notulae Systematicae 14: 139 ( Perrier 1951). — Type: Madagascar • Sava, Sommet ouest du Marojejy; alt. 2000 m; III-IV.1949; H. Humbert et al. 23868; lectotype: P[P00094528]!, designated by Hermans et al. (2007: 72); Cribb & Hermans (2009: 42), syn. nov.

TYPE MATERIAL. — France, La Réunion • sine loc.; Cordemoy s.n.; lectotype: MARS [ MARS087655 View Materials ]!, designated by Hermans & Cribb (2021: 101) .

ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — Madagascar • Sava, nordest du Maimborondro au nord du Maroambihy-Lokoho; alt. 400- 500 m; III.1949; H. Humbert 23388; P [ P00094527 ] ! • Sava, mont Beondroka, au Nord de Maroambihy ; 17-22.III.1949; H. Humbert 23602; P [ P00094525 , P00094526 ]!, G !.

NOTES

This species was previously known only from La Réunion, but Benthamia longecalceata from Madagascar appears to be a new synonym. Here is a translation of the original Latin description of Benthamia longecalceata by Perrier: “Geophyte, slender, 25-40 cm high, one-leaved. Leaf oval (1.3 × 1-1.5 cm), shortly (5-10 mm) petiolate, acute-acuminate. Inflorescence slender, peduncle a few sheaths. Rachis dense, 2-4 cm long, 7-10 mm wide, 10- to 20-flowered. Floral bracts acute, narrowly lanceolate, shorter than the pedicellate ovary. Sepals one-veined; dorsal sepal obtusely ovate (2 × 1.5 mm), lateral sepals subfalciform (3 × 1.8 mm). Petals obtusely subfalciform, small (2 × 1 mm), one-veined. Lip elongated (2.5 mm), slipper-shaped, spur pendent, cylindric, the same length as the lip (2.5 mm).”

It is highly likely that Jean Bosser also discovered this synonymy but did not publish it. As a matter of fact, he left several notes on the specimens stating that this species was very close to Hemiperis falcata Cordem. of La Réunion and that further dissections should be done. He even filed the two specimens which were not the holotype in the Cynorkis falcata folder in P, where we found them.

MARS

Aix-Marseille Université

H

University of Helsinki

P

Museum National d' Histoire Naturelle, Paris (MNHN) - Vascular Plants

G

Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Liliopsida

Order

Asparagales

Family

Orchidaceae

Genus

Cynorkis

Loc

Cynorkis falcata (Frapp.) Schltr.

Hervouet, Jean-Michel, Descourvières, Pascal, Hermans, Johan & Longou, Ludivine 2025
2025
Loc

Benthamia longecalceata H.Perrier

H. Perrier 1951: 139
1951
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