Benthamia mascula Hervouet & Descourv., 2025

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 : 218-220

Benthamia majoriflora H.Perrier

( Fig. 66 ; 67 )

Notulae Systematicae 14 (2): 140 ( Perrier 1951).

TYPE MATERIAL. — Madagascar • Sava, pentes occidentales du massif de Marojejy, district d’Andapa; 14°26’05”S, 49°45’38”E; 28.XI-06.XII.1948; H. Humbert et al. 22224; holotype: P [ P00094531 ] !.

ETYMOLOGY. — From Latin “ major ”, greater, and “ florus ”, flowered.

PHENOLOGY. — From October to December.

DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY. — Madagascar. So far only known in the slopes of Mt. Marojejy in the north-east, in Sava region. Epiphytic, often on Ravenea palms, from 500 m to 1500 m ( Fig. 68 ). Specimen Iharivolana et al. IH021 in Geneva (G[G00409570]) is possibly a withered Benthamia majoriflora from Sorata forest, Amboriala in the district of Vohemar, which would be the first record outside the Mt. Marojejy area.

CONSERVATION. — If we exclude the specimen recently collected in the district of Vohémar, this species has been collected from a single locality along the path to the summit of Mt. Marojejy, it can be considered Critically endangered (CR) according to criterion B2, AOO less than 10 km ², a single location and quality of habitat on decline. ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — Madagascar • Sava, massif du Marojejy; alt. 1300 m; XI.1972; P. Morat 4009; P [ P00692450 , P00692451 ] ! • Sava, massif du Marojejy; alt. 700-1150 m; 8.X.1988; J. S. Miller 3494; MO [ MO3022624 ] ! • Sava, massif du Marojejy; alt. 1000-1200 m; 25.XI.1989; J. S. Miller 4593; MO [ MO3022635 ] ! • Sava, NW of Manantenina ; 1995; J. Hermans 2751; K !• Sava, Réserve Naturelle Intégrale de Marojejy ; 14°26’12”S, 49°44’30”E; alt. 1300 m; 26.X.1996; M. Rakotondrainibe 3518; P [ P06796735 ] ! • Sava, Marojejy massif; alt. 1400 m; 1999; J. Hermans 4408; K ! • Sava, Marojejy massif; alt. 1400 m; 1999; J. Hermans 5089; K ! • Sava, Marojejy National Park , camp n°3 and camp n°2; 14°25’09”S, 49°44’46”E- 14°25’24”S, 49°45’29”E; alt. 1280-1350 m; XI.2003; H. H. Schmidt et al. 4313; K! spirit material, MO • Sava, Marojejy, between encampment Marojejya & Propithecus; 14°26’15”S, 49°45’16”E; alt. 1106 m; XI.2010; L. R. Rajaovelona et al. RJL281; K [ K000664873 ]!, TAN !.

NOTES

A very distinctive, large epiphytic plant with white flowers. Flowers and habit are similar to those of Benthamia humbertii or B. latisatis , both terrestrial.

See also: Cribb & Hermans (2009: 49), Hervouet (2018:

167).

DESCRIPTION

Erect robust epiphytic herb, 60-100 cm tall, turning black when dry, yellowish-green when alive.Tubers in bundles, very fleshy, up to 5, roots not seen. Stem 5-11 mm in diameter, the lower part covered with dark red sheaths. Leaves 1-5, acutely lanceolate, 22 × 4 cm, in lower half or up to the rachis. Rachis 10-18 cm long, 2.5-3 cm wide, very dense, bearing 40-100 flowers. Floral bracts narrow, 7 × 2 mm, much shorter than the ovary. Ovary 12-13 × 2-3 mm long. Flowers 5 mm long, white or very light green; sepals narrowly elliptic, obtusely narrowed, dorsal sepal 5-5.2 × 1.2-2 mm, lateral sepals 4-5 × 1.3-2.1 mm; petals asymmetric, 4.5-4.9 × 1.8-2.7 mm, lower margins widely expanded, base 2.5 mm high; lip widely ventricose, concave, 5-6 × 3.1-4.5 mm, obscurely 4-veined, apex trilobed, lobes narrow, acute, midlobe thicker, with a thick callus; spur purse-shaped, 1-1.5 × 0.7-1 mm. Column 1-2.5 × 1-1.5 mm; anther acute at the top; auricles prominent, nearly as wide as the anther is high.

Figures

FIG. 66. — Benthamia majoriflora H.Perrier, Mount Marojejy, Madagascar, 28 October 2005. Photograph by Jean-Michel Hervouet.

FIG. 67. — Benthamia majoriflora H.Perrier: Mount Marojejy, Madagascar, 28 October 2005. Photograph by Jean-Michel Hervouet.

FIG. 68. — Distribution map of Benthamia majoriflora H.Perrier.