Benthamia misera (Ridl.) 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 : 244

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.5252/adansonia2025v47a11
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16595541
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B87AB-FF9F-FFAA-20AD-F2092E6AC064
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Benthamia misera (Ridl.) Schltr.
status

Treatment

Benthamia misera (Ridl.) Schltr. View in CoL

Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis 33: 24 ( Schlechter 1924). — Habenaria misera Ridl. View in CoL , Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany 21: 503 ( Ridley 1885).

TYPE MATERIAL. — Madagascar • Imerina; W. Deans Cowan s.n.; holotype BM [ BM000034594 ]!, with tracing and drawing of flower in Reichenbach herbarium in W, R11448 .

ETYMOLOGY. — From the Latin “ misera ”, miserable, due to the poor aspect of the plant.

PHENOLOGY. — Unknown.

DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY. — Madagascar. From the central region of Imerina, according to Deans-Cowan.

CONSERVATION. — Data Deficient.

NOTES

This species is reminiscent of Benthamia erinacea but with an unusual shape of leaves. Moreover, the type specimen is damaged, so we decided to keep it as an insufficiently known species. Specimens identified as Benthamia misera by Perrier belong to two different species: Benthamia spiraloides (P[P00094536, P00094537]) and Benthamia africana (P[P00094538]), the species is thus known only from the holotype. It was reported from La Réunion by Szelengowicz & Tamon (2013: 248). The text refers to the Madagascan species and the photographs show Benthamia vulcanorum sp. nov.

See also: Perrier (1939: 28), Cribb & Hermans (2009: 44).

DESCRIPTION

Erect terrestrial herb. Roots unknown. Leaves two, oval or oval-lanceolate, radical, cuspidate; inflorescence a lax and slender rachis with flowers on all its length. Bracts lanceolate, twice the length of flowers. Flowers small; lateral sepals oval-lanceolate, obtuse; dorsal sepal wider; petals smaller, lanceolate, fleshy; lip entire, ovate, short, fleshy at the top, hollow at the base, with erect margins; spur very small and saccate. Anther very short, apiculate.