Benthamia bathieana Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 25 (1924).
Synonyms:
Benthamia latifolia Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 34(2): 303 (1916), nom. illeg.
Description:
Plants terrestrial, robust, to 70 cm. tall; tubers very numerous (20-30), narrowly fusiform, elongated by a root; stem sheathed basally by the sheaths, bearing 5-6 leaves above. Leaves large, oval or elliptical, averaging 16 x 7.5 cm, the superiors gradually becomning smaller. Rachis rigid. elongated (30 x 1.8 cm.), densely, many flowered; bracts lanceolate, very acuminate. the inferiors longer than the flower; flowers clear yellow. Sepals oblong, obtuse, 1 veined and 3.75 mm long, the median concave and upright. Petals oval-obtuse, 2 veined and slightly enlarged on the front basal margin. Labellum (4 x 3 mm.), widely compressed basally, obviously trilobed medially; lateral lobes fiat, triangular-obtuse, the median linear lingulate, obtuse and fleshy; spur pendent, cylindrical, 4 mm long. Anther oval-obtuse; staminodes half to a third the length of the anther. Pedicel generally 6 mm long.
Habitat:
Shady rocks, from 2000m. alt.;
Flowering:
February-March.
Distribution:
Endemic to Madagascar
References:
Flora of Madagascar Perrier 1939/81; Encylopedia of Cultivated Orchids Hawkes 1965; Orchids of Madagascar Hermans 2007; Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar Cribb & Herman 2009
Images:
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Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ
Photograph ©Frederic Henze. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Frederic Henze. Image used with kind permission.