Benthamia herminioides 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 : 205-207

Benthamia herminioides Schltr.

( Figs 47 ; 48 ; 49 )

Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis 33 ( Schlechter 1924: 27). Benthamia herminioides subsp. intermedia H.Perrier , Bulletin de la

Société botanique de France 81 ( Perrier 1934: 37). — Type: Madagascar • Diana , Mt. Tsaratanana; 14°01’17”S, 48°58’00”E; alt .

2000 m; IV.1924; H. Perrier 16479; holotype P[P00094515]!,

syn. nov. TYPE MATERIAL. — Madagascar • Vakinankaratra, mont Ibity au sud d’Antsirabe; 20°06’25”S, 46°59’51”E; alt. 2000 m,. II.1914; H. Perrier 8103 (XIX); holotype: P[P00094513]!. ETYMOLOGY. — Named for its similarity with species in the genus Herminium , according to Schlechter. PHENOLOGY. — February to April. DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY. —Madagascar. Mainly in Analamanga, Alaotra-Mangoro, Haute Matsiatra and Amoron’i Mania regions, but with one locality in Sava region, Mt. Marojejy. In montane grasslands or marshes from 1000 to 2100 m ( Fig. 50 ). Benthamia herminioides ( subsp. herminioides ) and Benthamia herminioides subsp. intermedia were listed as occurring in La Réunion by Szelengowicz & Tamon (2013: 244-245). However, there is no voucher for either and the photographs of Benthamia herminioides subsp. intermedia show a young Benthamia latisatis .

CONSERVATION. — This species seems widespread in Madagascar but is only known from fewer than 10 localities which do not cover more than 2 000 km², with a decline of the habitat quality, it is therefore considered Vulnerable (VU) according to criterion B2.

ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — Madagascar • Sava , sommet oriental du massif de Marojejy; III-IV.1939; H. Humbert et al. 23880; P [ P00334789 ] ! • Haute Matsiatra, Ambondrombe; 21°52’30”S, 47°15’37”E; alt. 1500 m; 11.IV.1941; P. Boiteau 4840; P [ P00692304 ] ! • Sava, pentes orientales du massif de Marojejy; 24.III.1949; alt. 1000 m; H. Humbert 23638; P [ P00334791 ] ! • Sava, sommet oriental du massif de Marojejy; 14°26’57”S, 49°43’57”E; 26.III-2.IV.1949; H. Humbert et al. 23879; P [ P00334790 ]!, G ! • Sava, sommet oriental du massif du Marojejy; 14°25’S, 49°43’E; alt. 1850-2137 m; 17-20.XII.1949; H. Humbert 22717; P [ P00692985 , P00692988 , P01778630 ]!, G!, K !• Atsinanana, Brickaville; VI.1959; W. Rauh 158; HEID [ HEID713727 ] ! • Haute Matsiatra, Andringitra; IV.1964, J. Bosser 19643; P [ P00692263 ] ! • Analamanga, SE Carion, near the granite dome of Angavokely; alt. 1750-1780 m; 27.II.1988; B. Pettersson et al. 203; P [ P02115315 flowers in bud]!, K [spirit K 55118.000] ! • Sava, Réserve naturelle de Marojejy, the trail to the summit of Marojejy Est; 14°26’S, 49°13’E; alt. 1900-2133 m; 15.II.1989; J. S. Miller et al. 4150; P [ P00754986 ]!, MO [ MO3022650 ]!, TAN ! • Sava, Réserve naturelle de Marojejy; alt. 1900-2133 m; 15.II.1989; J. S. Miller et al. 4179; MO [ MO3022625 ] !• Haute Matsiatra, Ranomafana National Park , parcelle n°3; alt. 1374 m; 21°20’03”S, 47°24’49”E; III.1992; S. T. Malcomber et al. 1364; P [ P00754904 ]!, K, MO [ MO3022611 ]!, TAN ! • Haute Matsiatra, Ranomafana National Park , vicinity of Ampasina; 21°11’S, 47°25’E; 10.III.1995; D. Turk et al. 727; P [ P00094582 ]!, K!, K [spirit K 72250.000]!, WAG [ WAG.1924442] ! • Haute Matsiatra, Ambondrombe; alt. 1875 m; 9.III.2009; photos Jean-Michel Hervouet • Alaotra-Mangoro, Ambatovy; alt. 1120 m; 25.III.2011; T. Stévart et al. 4115; BRLU!, MO [ MO3060441 ]!, K!, TAN!, spirit • Amoron’i Mania, Antoetra, on Inselberg; 20°46’27”S, 47°19’16”E; alt. 1676 m; II.2015; A. & C. Sieder et al. L 6811 & J. Hermans 8076; K!, WU!, and spirit material • Alaotra-Mangoro, Andasibe, Iaroka forest ; 29.IX.2019; J. Hermans 835; 5 K !.

NOTES

The flowers are amongst the smallest in the genus. They generally have a green calyx and white corolla, but the petals can be also greenish (original subsp. intermedia ) or sulphur yellow (Marojejy and Ambondrombe, with plants with white corolla also present). The differences given by Perrier to establish the subspecies intermedia fall within the variability of the species itself, but he noted on the herbarium sheet that the flowers are greenish.

Perrier also refers to Benthamia herminioides subsp. typica H.Perrier ( Perrier 1934: 36) . This name is not validly published (article 24.3 of the International Code of Nomenclature). With subsp. typica Perrier was referring to the autonym name, i.e. subsp. herminioides .

See also: Schlechter (1930: t.10 n°40), Perrier (1939: 36), Cribb & Hermans (2009: 48), Hervouet (2018: 165).

DESCRIPTION

Small or slender terrestrial herb, 20-70 cm tall. Tubers 2-3, 15-25 × 3-4 mm. Stem green, 1.5-3 mm in diameter, with 1-2 tubular sheaths at the base, 15-32 cm × 3 mm, and leaves in the lower half. Leaves 2-3, elliptic-lanceolate or lanceolate, 3-10 × 1.5-2.5 cm, shortly acuminate, very gradually and slightly narrowed towards the base. Rachis 5-25 cm, laxly 15-45 flowered, flowers fairly close together on stem, 3-6 mm apart, unilateral. Floral bracts lanceolate-acuminate, 2.2-6.5 × 0.7-1.5 mm, variable, generally about the same length as the ovary but sometimes shorter or longer, folded around the base of the ovary and apiculate. Ovary 2.5-5 × 0.9-1.5 mm, barrelshaped with 3 distinct ridges. Flowers with green calyx, and petals generally white, sometimes yellow or greenish, small. Overall flower size 3 mm wide, 2 mm high, 2.5 mm deep; sepals oblong, obtuse, 1-veined, 1.8-2.75 × 0.4-1 mm, dorsal sepal forming a hood over the column together with the petals, lateral sepals concave or navicular, spreading and joined slightly at the base with the dorsal sepal and petals; petals 1-veined very obtuse, gradually thickened towards the apex, 1.7-2 × 0.6-1 mm, a little shorter than the sepals; lip rhomboid in outline, 1.1-2.7 × 0.9-1.2 mm, base a little concave, trilobed in the upper third, the midlobe triangular-acute, thick, twice as long as the lateral lobes which are obtuse and thickened at the apex, erect to inwards folding, embedded into the petals; spur very short, subglobose, saccate or a little claviform, 0.6-0.8 × 0.3-0.8. Column 0.5-0.7 × 0.5-0.7 mm, anther apiculate; auricles reaching half the anther length or more, slightly spathulate; rostellum with the midlobe triangular-acute; stigmata in a cushion, free only at the apex; pollen grains minute, around 0.2 mm.

Figures

FIG. 47. — Benthamia herminioides Schltr.: Mount Ibity, Madagascar, 1 April 2018. Photograph by Jean-Michel Hervouet.

FIG. 48. — Benthamia herminioides Schltr.: Mount Ibity, Madagascar, 1 April 2018. Photograph by Jean-Michel Hervouet.

FIG. 49. — Benthamia herminioides Schltr.:Mount Ambondrombe,Madagascar, 11 April 2018. Yellow flowers. Photograph by Jean-Michel Hervouet.

FIG. 50. — Distribution map of Benthamia herminioides Schltr.