Benthamia latisatis (Thouars) Bytebier

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 : 212-214

Benthamia latisatis (Thouars) Bytebier

( Figs 58 ; 59 )

Candollea 80: 1-5 ( Bytebier 2025). — Satorkis latisatis Thouars, Histoire particulière des plantes orchidées recueillies sur les trois îles australes d’Afrique: 10 ( Thouars 1822), alternative Thouarsian name for Satyrium latifolium Thouars. — Satyrium latifolium Thouars, Histoire Particulière des plantes orchidées recueillies sur les trois îles australes d’Afrique: 10 ( Thouars 1822), nom. illeg., non L. (Linnaeus 1759). — Habenaria chlorantha Spreng. , Systema Vegetabilium 3: 691 ( Sprengel 1826), nomen illeg. superfl. — Benthamia latifolia (Thouars) A.Rich., Mémoires de la Société d’Histoire naturelle de Paris, tome IV: 38 ( Richard 1828). — Herminium latifolium (Thouars) Lindl. , Edward’s Botanical Register 18: t.1499 ( Lindley 1832). — Peristylus latifolius (Thouars) Lindl. , Genera and Species of Orchidaceous Plants: 297 ( Lindley 1835). — Habenaria latifolia (Thouars) T.Durand & Schinz , Conspectus Florae Africae , vol. 5: 80 ( Durand & Schinz 1892), nom. illeg. — Habenaria latifolia (Thouars) Cordem., Flore de l’île de la Réunion: 260 ( Cordemoy 1895). — Benthamia chlorantha (Spreng.) Garay & Romero, Harvard Papers of Botany 3: 53 ( Garay & Romero 1998), nomen illeg. superfl.

TYPE MATERIAL. — France, La Réunion • À la grande montée de la plaine; 20°56’S, 55°31’E; L. M. A. du Petit-Thouars s.n.; lectotype: 2-part specimen: P [ P00094522 , P00094523 ]!, designated by Garay & Romero ( Garay & Romero 1998: 53) .

ETYMOLOGY. — Satorkis latisatis is the alternative Thouarsian name of Satyrium latifolium . Satorkis replaces Satyrium because in Thouars nomenclature all genera in the family Orchidaceae must end with “orkis”. “ Latisatis ” combines lati which is the beginning of latifolium and satis which refers to the genus Satorkis .

PHENOLOGY. — July to March.

DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY. — La Réunion, Mauritius. Widespread in the north-east part of La Réunion, from 400 to 2100 m, and also present in the south of Mauritius ( Fig. 60 ). On roadsides or banks in full sun as well as in understorey in forest.

CONSERVATION. — Widespread in La Réunion where it is of Least Concern (LC) but it is certainly Vulnerable (VU) in Mauritius, under criterion D2 (AOO less than 20 km ²).

ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — Mauritius • Sine loc.; Commerson s.n.; P [ P00334788 ] ! • sine loc.; Boivin s.n.; W, another Boivin s.n. plate in W is Benthamia erinacea • sine loc.; Hill 117; BM [ BM000032256 ] ! • sine loc.; Herb. Pamplemousses 1556; MAU [ MAU0002100 ] ! • Pétrin, Les Mares ; 20°24’31”S, 57°28’19”E; VII.1947; G. Morin H/29 ; MAU [ MAU0002099 ] ! • Marshy localities near Pétrin and Chemin Mingot ; XI.1948; R. E. Vaughan 20; MAU [ MAU000210 , MAU0002102 ] !• Black river gorges; 20°25’35”S, 57°27’05”E; alt. 244 m; VII.1952; Hill M5 ; BM [ BM000034596 ] ! • Pétrin ; IX.1969; J. Gueho 13779; P ! • Pigeon Wood c. 100 m before Bassin Blanc ; 20°27’01”S, 57°28’09”E; alt. 100 m; VIII.2006; K. Pynee et al. 24849; MAU [ MAU0001992 ] ! • Pigeon Wood c. 100 m before Bassin Blanc ; IX.2009; K. Pynee et al. 24850 & 24851; MAU [ MAU0001993 ] !.

France, La Réunion • Sine loc.; Cordemoy s.n.; MARS [ MARS087705 ] !• sine loc.; Cordemoy s.n.; MARS! 2 specimens • sine loc.; Renz 13018; RENZ ! • sine loc.; Cordemoy s.n.; MARS [ MARS087690 - MARS087700 , 11 specimens] ! • sine loc.; Herb. Richard R19907 ; W ! • sine loc.; A. Richard s.n.; K-Lind!, with drawing by Lindley, same sheet as Bouton • À terre dans les forêts humides; A. Richard 817; P [ P00334792 , P00334793 , P00334794 , P00334795 ] ! • Boucan- Launay ; 20°55’S, 55°27’E; Bernier s.n.; P [ P00334785 ] ! • sine loc.; A. N. Desvaux s.n.; P [ P00334786 ] ! • A. N. Desvaux 266; P [ P00334787 ] ! • sine loc.; L. H. Boivin s.n.; P [ P00738487 ] ! • sine loc.; L. H. Boivin s.n.; P [ P00334780 , P00334781 , P00334783 ] ! • sine loc.; L. H. Boivin s.n.; P [ P00738488 ] ! • sine loc.; 1825; J. B. G. M. Bory s.n.; P [ P00094524 ] ! • sine loc.; 1841; C. Richard 667; P [ P00738464 ] ! • sine loc.; 1847; Armange 168; P [ P00334782 ] ! • sine loc.; 1849; Giraudy R11697 ; W ! • Saint-Benoit ; 27. VI.1867; J. Cordemoy s.n.; REU ! • sine loc.; 22.III.1872; J. B. Potier s.n.; P [ P00334779 ] ! • Plaine des Cafres , Saint- Pierre; 21°09’S, 55°34’E; 28.III.1872; J. B. Potier s.n.; P [ P00334784 ] ! • sine loc.; 1863; J. Blackburn s.n. Herb. Hookerianum; K ! • sine loc.; 1875; B. Balfour s.n.; K ! • Bélouve ; 21°04’34”S, 55°32’31”E; alt. 1500 m; IV.1956; J. Bosser 9470; P [ P00738338 , P00738339 ] ! • Plaine des Cafres , Petite Plaine; alt. 1600 m; 28.VII.1963; W. Rauh 215; HEID [ HEID7899475 ] ! • Plaine des Palmistes , cascade Biberon; 21°07’31”S, 55°37’43”E; alt. 1000 m; 11.X.1970; T. Cadet 2813; P [ P00738481 ]!, REU [ REU006396 , REU006397 ] ! • Basse-Vallée ; 26.XI.1970; F. Friedmann 750; P [ P00738337 ] ! • Coteau Kervéguen ; 21°07’27”S, 55°30’16”E; II.1971; J. Bosser 20741; P [ P00738490 ] ! • Plaine des Palmistes , rampes de la Grande Montée; 20°56’S, 55°31’E; alt. 1400 m; 14.II.1971; T. Cadet 3037; P [ P00738482 ] ! • Saint-Philippe , Hauts de Basse Vallée; alt. 1100 m; 15.II.1971; T. Cadet 3040; REU [ REU006398 ] ! • Sentier du Bras Cabot, îlet de patience; 21°06’S, 55°37’E; 19.II.1971; J. Bosser 20572; P [ P00150073 , spirit] ! • Sentier de Mafate , Cirque de Hellbourg; 5. I.1972; J. Bosser 21064; P [ P00738491 ] ! • Dos d’âne; 20°58’S, 55°23’E; alt. 1250 m; VII.1972; F. Friedman 1726; P [ P00738327 , P00738328 ] ! • Dos d’âne; 20°58’S, 55°23’E; 17.X.1972; J. Bosser 21253 & 21253 bis; P [ P00738357 , P00738358 ], P [ P00738493 ] ! • Saint-Philippe , Basse Vallée; station 262; alt. 600 m; 20.X.1972; J. Bosser 21295, 21295 bis and 21295 ter; P [ P00738329 , P00738330 , P00738331 , P00738332 and spirit, P00738455 , P00738456 ]!, P [ P00738492 ] ! • Basse Vallée , Saint-Philippe; 21°21’16”S, 55°44’22”E; alt. 900 m; 20.X.1972; T. Cadet 3863; P [ P00738484 ]!, REU [ REU006399 , REU006400 ] ! • Vallée de la rivière des Marsouins; 21°05’37”S, 55°36’43”E; alt. 600 m; 14.XI.1973; T. Cadet 4403; P [ P00738480 ]!, REU [ REU006401 , REU006402 , REU006403 , REU006404 ] ! • Sentier du morne de Fourche, cirque de Salazie; 28.III.1974; J. Bosser 21749; P [ P00738476 ] ! • Sentier de Grand Îlet à la Roche Ecrite, Cirque de Salazie; 21°00’45”S, 55°28’08”E; alt. 1650 m; 15.X.1974; T. Cadet 4830; P [ P00738483 ]!, REU [ REU006405 , REU006406 ] ! • Tévelave ; alt. 1050 m; 27.XI.1977; F. Billiet et al. 472; BR [ BR0000021550997 ] ! • Forêt de Bébour ; 21°07’33”S, 55°34’21”E; 3.III.1978; J. Bosser 22560; P [ P00738459 ] ! • Bord de ravine, hauts de Sainte-Rose; 21°09’S, 55°45’E; 18.IV.1978; J. Bosser 22523; P [ P00738355 ] ! • Saint-Philippe , Hauts du Tremblet; 21°17’43”S, 55°45’34”E; alt. 1700 m; 20.IV.1978; J. Boss- er 22526; P [ P00738458 ] ! • Saint-Philippe , Hauts du Tremblet; 21°17’43”S, 55°45’34”E; alt. 1700 m; 20.IV.1978; T. Cadet 5829; REU [ REU017468 ] ! • Roche écrite; 21°00’55”S, 55°27’39”E; alt. 1450 m; 19.III.1988; R. Lavergne RL 1368; REU [ REU007831 ] ! • Near Piton Ravine à Marguet; 20°58’16”S, 55°23’53”E; alt. 1300 m; 16. I.1990; R. Lavergne RL 1694; REU [ REU007774 ] ! • L’Étang-Salé , Source Nouvelle Bras Sec, Chemin Canal; 21°13’32”S, 55°22’09”E; alt. 1100 m; X.2003; V. Grondin et al. 827; CBNM ! • L’Étang-Salé , Source Nouvelle Bras Sec, Chemin Canal; 21°13’32”S, 55°22’09”E; alt. 1250 m; X.2003; V. Grondin et al. 834; CBNM ! • Plaine des Palmistes , La Tanguière; alt. 850 m; XII.2003; J. Férard et al. 978; CBNM ! • GR de la roche écrite, le Brûlé, Saint-Denis ; 20°57’26”S, 55°26’17”E; 28. I.2002; M. Pignal et al. 1949; P [ P00239561 ]!, K [ K000718199 ] !) • Plaine des Palmistes , Îlet Patience path; 21°06’S, 55°37’E; 22.XI.2002; T. Pailler TP 49; REU [ REU006395 , REU006396 , REU007943 ] ! • Bébour , sentier îlet à Bananes; 21°05’54”S, 55°35’35”E; alt. 1300 m; 11.II.2004; J. Fournel JF76 ; REU [ REU006394 ] ! • Route du Volcan towards Piton de l’Eau ; 21°11’02”S, 55°40’28”E; alt. 2100-2200 m; 15.III.2007; F. Martos FM82 and FM83 ; REU [ REU007625 , REU007626 ] ! • Saint-Denis , Plaine des Chicots; 20°58’26”S, 55°25’47”E; alt. 1900 m; 5. V.2008; F. Martos FM316 ; REU [ REU007866 ] ! • Plaine des Palmistes , Piton des Cabris; 21°09’24”S, 55°39’03”E; alt. 1700 m; 2008; F. Martos FM322 ; REU [ REU007868 ] ! • Plaine des Cafres ; XI.2011; G. Folio et al. FG58 ; REU [ REU009516 ] !.

NOTES

The largest plant in the genus. It is very variable and very small flowering specimens may appear uncharacteristic. It is perhaps surprising that the species has never been found in Madagascar, where it is replaced by the closely related Benthamia humbertii H.Perrier , with similar flowers but different leaves.

The Thouars specimen P 00094522 in P is generally considered the holotype of Satyrium latifolium Thouars , however Thouars did not assign types. Therefore, we designate here this specimen as the lectotype, the flower dissection on sheet P 00094523 being an isolectotype.

See also: Cadet (1989: plate 22, as Benthamia latifoli a (Thouars) A.Rich.), Benke (2004: 64, as Benthamia latifoli a (Thouars) A.Rich.), Bernet (2010: 132, as Benthamia latifoli a (Thouars) A.Rich.), Szelengowicz & Tamon (2013: 244, as Benthamia herminioides ssp. intermedia H.Perrier ), Szelengowicz & Tamon (2013: 246, as Benthamia latifolia ), Pailler & Henze (2020: 73), Hermans & Cribb (2023: 107).

DESCRIPTION

Robust terrestrial herb, 30-180 cm tall.Tubers 2, oblong.Stem cylindrical, 3-10 mm in diameter, bearing two basal sheathing sterile bracts and several lanceolate, acuminate sterile bracts along length. Leaves 2-7, fleshy, cauline, ovate to oblong-lanceolate, acute, 12-30 × 3-10 cm, sheathing the stem at base. Rachis 12-25 cm long, densely cylindrical, with 20-120 flowers.Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, as long as the flowers, 5-15 × 1.8- 5 mm. Ovary suberect, 4-7 × 1.5-1.9 mm. Flowers spreading, c. 10 mm across, not opening widely, greenish or yellow-green; dorsal sepal oblong-elliptic, obtuse, 2.7-5.5 × 1.1-3.2 mm; lateral sepals obliquely oblong-ovate, obtuse, 2.9-4.8 × 1-1.8 mm; petals ovate-elliptic, subacute, 2-5.1 × 1.3-3.3 mm, forming a hood with the dorsal sepal. Lip trilobed, 2.2-5 × 2.5-5.1 mm; lateral lobes semi-circular, slightly shorter than the midlobe; midlobe fleshy, oblong, blunt, keeled, around 1.2 mm wide; spur shortly cylindrical-conical, slightly incurved, very slightly bilobed at apex, 1-1.6 × 0.7-1.3 mm long. Column 1-2 × 0.7- 1.8 mm, anther obtuse to sub-apiculate; auricles spathulate, about half the size or as long as the anther, rostellum short and thick. Capsule c. 10 mm long.

Figures

FIG. 58. — Benthamia latisatis(Thouars) Bytebier,Caverne Dufour,La Réunion, 14 October 2021. Photograph by Jean-Michel Hervouet.

FIG. 59. — Benthamia latisatis(Thouars) Bytebier,Caverne Dufour,La Réunion, 14 October 2021. Photograph by Jean-Michel Hervouet.

FIG. 60. — Distribution map of Benthamia latisatis (Thouars) Bytebier.