Oberonia bertoldii King & Pantl.

Geiger, D. L., 2020, Studies in Oberonia 8 (Orchidaceae: Malaxideae). Additional 24 new synonyms, a corrected spelling, and other nomenclatural matters, Blumea 65 (3), pp. 188-203 : 190

Oberonia bertoldii King & Pantl. — Fig. 2

Oberonia bertoldii King & Pantl. (1897) 581 (‘ Bertholdi ’); Holttum (1953) 222 [spelling correction, ‘ Bertoldii ’]. — Syntypes: Scortechini 1525 (repository unknown), [Malay Peninsula,] Perak.

Oberonia gracillima Ridl. (1905) 189. — Syntypes: Rostados s.n. (K 000942998, SING 0047515 ), Tringanu [= Terengganu,Peninsular Malaysia] at Bundi, Malaya, syn. nov.

Oberonia laeta J.J.Sm. (1927) 41, pl. 4, I. — Syntypes: Backer 31514 (repository unknown), Java, Banjoemas, Kinderzee [Banyumas Regency], syn. nov.

Notes — The three names had been treated as synonyms already by Seidenfaden (1968) but are currently still listed as distinct by WCSP (2020), for which reason these taxa are here discussed in more detail. The oldest name, O. bertoldii was introduced as O. Bertoldi [sic], but requires a double -ii ending according to ICN (2018) Art. 60.8(b). That spelling was first used by Holttum (1953), though still with the customary capitalisation of the specific epithet honouring a person. Seidenfaden (1968) was the first author to use the correct and modern spelling of bertoldii .

Oberonia gracillima is here confirmed as a synonym of O. bertoldii after examination of the SING syntype. The shared characters include the habit, the broad triangular lip with short broadly bifid epichile, deeply serrated lateral petals, and broad, serrated bract. The collector is indicated as Rostado in the protologue but should be spelled Rostados according to Van Steenis-Kruseman (2017) .

The habit of all three names are identical for all intents and purposes. King & Pantling (1897) noted the very short stem, and narrowly lanceolate acuminate leaves, which perfectly describes the syntype of O. gracillima ( Fig. 2d ) and illustration of O. laeta ( Fig. 2c ).

Figures

Fig. 2 a. Flower drawing of O. bertoldii by Scortechini from Seidenfaden (1968), with separate lip; b. drawing of flower of O. laeta from Smith (1927) with two lips; c. habit of O. laeta from Smith (1927); d. syntype of O. gracillima K 000942998 from K database.