Benthamia elata 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 : 194-195

Benthamia elata Schltr.

( Figs 30 ; 31 )

Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis 15 ( Schlechter 1918: 324).

Benthamia nigrovaginata H.Perrier , Bulletin de la Société botanique de France 81: 32 ( Perrier 1934). —

Type: Madagascar • Haute Matsiatra, massif de l’Ikongo; 21°51’30”S, 47°26’30”E; 17.X.1926; R. Decary 5789; lectotype: P[P00094554]!, here designated; isolectotypes: P[P00094555, P00094556]!, syn. nov .

Benthamia verecunda Schltr., Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis 33 ( Schlechter 1924: 34). —

Type: Madagascar • Diana , Manongarivo; 14°00’00”S, 48°23’30”E; alt. 1200 m; IV.1909; H. Perrier 1944 (H.L. Jumelle 19); lectotype: P[P00094583]!, here designated; syntypes: P[P00094584, P00094585]!, syn. nov.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Madagascar • sine loc.; Laggiara s.n.; holotype: B, destroyed; lectotype: here designated: drawing by Schlechter, Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis Beihefte 68 ( Schlechter 1930: t.10); Madagascar • Haute Matsiatra, 7-10 km W of Ranomafana; 21°16’S, 47°25’E; alt. 1130 m; 18.VIII.1987; G.E. Schatz et al. 1452; epitype: P [ P00094495 ]!, here designated.

ETYMOLOGY. — From Latin “ elatus ”: tall.

PHENOLOGY. — April to October. Earlier in the west than on the east coast.

DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY. — Madagascar. Widespread in the north and in south-east regions, in medium altitude moist evergreen forest. From altitude of 750 m up to 1200 m ( Fig. 32 ). The species was reported from La Réunion by Szelengowicz & Tamon (2013: 252) but the photographs show Benthamia africana .

CONSERVATION. — It has been considered Endangered under criteria B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv) by the IUCN SSC Madagascar Plant Specialist Group in 2015 (https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN. UK.2015-2.RLTS.T70102671A70133186.en). With the inclusion of the two synonymised names this species has a very large EOO, is known from more than 10 locations over a large area. Although locally common it cannot be considered widespread and abundant, with a very fragmented EOO and a small number of locations we consider it Near Threatened (NT).

ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — Madagascar • Vatovavy-Fitovinany, Ifanadiana ; 21.VI.1925; R. Decary 3830; P [ P00094496 , P00094497 ]!, WAG [ WAG.0270037]!, BR [ BR0000021830068 ]!, K!, MO!, TAN ! • Atsimo-Atsinanana, Vondrozo ; 22°49’14”S, 47°19’10”E; 9.IX.1926; R. Decary 5465; P [ P00094588 ] ! • Haute Matsiatra, bord de la RN45, Ranomafana ; 16.VII.1969; Y. Veyret 1108; P [ P00692308 , P00692309 , P00692310 ] ! • Haute Matsiatra, forest E of Ranomafana, between Fianarantsoa and Ifanadiana ; 21°15’S, 47°22’E; alt. 1200 m; 31.VII.1987; P. Phillipson 2210; K!, WAG [ WAG.0251999]!, MO [ MO3022628 ]!, TAN ! • Sava, réserve Naturelle Marojejy , camp n°2; 7.X.1988; alt. 700 m; J.S. Miller et al. 3423; P [ P00754989 ]!, TAN, photographs by Jean-Michel Hervouet in same location • Sava, Réserve Naturelle de Marojejy ; 14°27’S, 49°47’E; alt. 660-830 m; X.1989; J.S. Miller et al. 4376; P [ P00692447 ]!, K!, MO [ MO3022634 ]!, TAN ! • Haute Matsiatra, Parc National de Ranomafana ; 21°16’S, 47°24’E; 5.VIII.1992; R. Rakoto 168; P [ P00692458 ] ! • Haute Matsiatra, Fianarantsoa à Ranomafana , 43 km de Fianarantsoa; 30.IX.1992; L. Allorge et al. 519; P [ P01778633 ]!, G, K [ K000718202 ]!, MO [ MO3248447 ]!, WAG [ WAG.0388228] ! • Haute Matsiatra, Parc National de Ranomafana, parcelle n°3, Talatakely ; 21°15’S, 47°27’E; alt. 800-1000 m; VI.1993; A. Kotozafy 39; P [ P00755055 ]!, BR [ BR0000005242085 ]!, K!, MO [ MO322630 ]!, TAN ! • Sava, Parc National de Marojejy ; 14°26’S, 49°46’E; alt. 750 m; X.1996; N. Messmer et al. 266; G [ G00163181 ], as Cynorkis sp . • Ranomafana; 2000; J. Hermans 4395; K ! • Haute Matsiatra, environ 12 km à l’ouest de Ranomafana, Vohipara ; 21°14’S, 47°24’E; V.2001; J. Hermans 3561; K ! • Haute Matsiatra, along Namorona River just above Ranomafana ; 4.X.2016; J. Hermans 8045 & 8046; K !.

NOTES

There are no significant differences between the types of Benthamia verecunda , B. nigrovaginata and B. elata . Black sheaths at the base of the plant are common among Benthamia (e.g. B. melanopoda ). The lengths of the lateral lobes of the lip compared with the midlobe may vary from 1/3 to about the same length but these variations are visible within the type and syntype of B. verecunda itself.Schlechter did not mention B. elata when describing B. verecunda , though his drawings of both species are very similar. Nor did Perrier mention B. elata when describing B. nigrovaginata . Both compare their species with more obviously different species.

See also: Schlechter (1930: t.12 n°48), Perrier (1939: 30), Perrier (1939: 33), Perrier (1939: 34), Cribb & Hermans (2009: 46), Cribb & Hermans (2009: 50), Hervouet (2018: 161).

DESCRIPTION

Erect terrestrial herb, 25 cm to more than 1 m tall. Tubers 2, oblong or fusiform. Stem 3-7 mm in diameter, with its base enveloped by 2-3 often black sheaths, then carrying leaves in the lower half and higher with 4-6 lanceolate-acuminate sheaths. Leaves 4-6, narrowly ligulate-lanceolate, 10-20 × 1.5-3.5 cm, acuminate, attenuate towards the base. Rachis many-flowered, cylindrical and very long, 20-40 × 1.3 cm, often half of the plant height, rather lax, flowers unilateral or almost so. Floral bracts lanceolate, 1-veined, 4-12 × 1.3-1.5 mm, narrowly acuminate, the lower ones longer than the flower. Ovary slender, cylindrical, twisted, 4.5-11 × 0.8-3 mm. Flowers 3.5-4.5 mm long without the ovary, 3-5.5 mm high, yellow or greenish-yellow; sepals oblong-ligulate, obtuse, 1-veined, 3-4 × 0.6-1.1 mm, the lateral sepals spreading, joined towards the base of the petals and the lip; petals lanceolate-oblong, obtuse, 3.7-5.5 × 0.8-1.4 mm, as long as the sepals, a little attenuate towards the apex; lip oblong, 3.1-6 × 1.2-2.3 mm, concave at the base, trilobed in the upper third, the lateral lobes triangular, 0.5-1.3 mm long, narrowly lanceolate-ligulate, the middle one ligulate-obtuse and 1-3 times larger than the laterals, 1.5-2.3 mm, sub-obtuse, thickened at the apex; spur in a semi-oblong sac shape, very rounded at the apex and a little flattened, 0.6-1.1 × 0.4-0.9 mm. Column subterete, 0.8-1.2 × 0.7-1 mm, anther digitate, slightly deflexed; auricles sub-spathulate, about as long as the anther; rostellum short and trilobed, the lateral lobes small, the midlobe very thick.

Figures

FIG. 30. — Benthamia elata Schltr., Ranomafana, Madagascar, 25 October 2022. Photograph by Jean-Michel Hervouet.

FIG. 31. — Benthamia elata Schltr.: Ranomafana, Madagascar, 31 July 2016. Photograph by Jean-Michel Hervouet.

FIG. 32. — Distribution map of Benthamia elata Schltr.