Genus Benthamia

Benthamia flavida Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 34(2): 302 (1916).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Benthamia perrieri Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 34(2): 302 (1916).
Description:
Terrestris, erecta, 25 — 35 cm alta; tuberibus oblongoideis; caule stricto vel substricto e basi usque infra medium 4 — 5-foliato, supra vaginulis acuminatis paucis in bracteas abeuntibus obsesso, tereti, glabro; foliis erecto-patentibus, lanceolato-linearibus, acutis, usque ad 12 cm longis, infra medium usque ad 1,3 cm latis, glabris; racemo secundo, dense multifloro, usque ad 16 cm longo; bracteis linearibus, acuminatis, flores vulgo paulo excedentibus, erectis; floribus parvulis, flavidis, glabris ; sepalis anguste oblongis, obtusis, c. 5 mm longis, lateralibus obliquis; petalis oblique oblongo- ligulatis, obtusis, quam sepala paulo brevioribus; labello circuitu oblongo supra medium trilobato, petalis aequilongo, lobis lateralibus brevibus oblique ovato-triangulis, subacutis, intermedio oblongo, obtusiusculo, carnoso, lateralibus plus duplo longiore, linea mediana labelli superne obtuse incrassata, calcare incurvo e basi paulo contracta subgloboso, c. 1 mm longo; gynostegio humili; anthera subglobosa grosse apiculata, staminodiis anguste oblongis, obtusis, anthera tertia parte brevioribus; ovario sessili fusiformi, glabro, c. 5 mm longo.
Habitat;
No data.
Notes:
The species is most closely related to B. procera Schltr., yet it has larger flowers, more sewn leaves, stiffer Growth, much narrower petals and a different shape Labellum. According to the collector, the flowers are yellow.
Distribution:
N. & C. Madagascar
References:
Beihefte zum botanischen Centralblatt. 1916

Benthamia exilis var. tenuissima Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 26 (1924).
Description:
Différe du type par une tige plus gréle et allongée (60 cm.) et ses fleurs jaunes, á sépales bruns.
Habitat:
No data
Distribution:
C. & SC. Madagascar
References:
Flore de Madagascar by H. Humbert Professeur au Muséum National D´Histoire Naturelle, 1939

Benthamia bosseri Hervouet, Adansonia, sér. 3, 36: 217 (2014).
Description:
Terrestrial herb with erect cylindrical stems 21-71 cm long, green or purple (on same plant), 2-5 mm in diameter. One or two sheaths at base of the stem, 2 to 3 leaves in the lower part of the stem. Leaves sheathing at their base, thin, ﬂexible, linear, acute, 50-140 × 5-10 mm. Two to three sterile bracts in upper part of stem, linear, acute, 13-25 × 2-3 mm. Inﬂorescence terminal, arching, 20-50 ﬂowered. Rachis 7-19 cm long. Floral bracts decurrent, acicular, reddish, as long as ovary + ﬂower, 7-12 × 2 mm. Flowers secund, yellow and reddish, not resupinate, drooping downward, seemingly semipeloric. Sepals similar, reddish, linear, concave, 3-3.5 × 1 mm, with a central vein, dorsally slightly keeled. Petals linear, yellow, similar to sepals but slightly narrower, slightly thickened at apex, 3-3.5 × 0.8-1 mm. Lip 3-lobed (a feature hardly visible on rehydrated material), 3-4 × 0.8-1 mm, mid lobe thickened at apex, 1 mm long, side lobes slightly shorter than mid lobe, thickened on fresh material, ﬂat and folded on lip when dried, spur very short (1 mm), somewhat discoid. Ovary greenish or reddish, 3 mm long (fresh ﬂower) to 10 mm (fruit), 1-2 mm in diameter. Column terete, very short (0.9-1 mm). Pollinia 2.
Etymology:
This species is dedicated to Jean Bosser, who collected it in the Andringitra massif and advised us to publish its description. Jean Bosser, from the year 1960 on, described, mostly in this journal, around 120 new species of orchids from the Madagascar Mascarene area and was thus very instrumental in the advancement of our current knowledge of Orchidaceae in this region. Jean Bosser sadly passed away on 6th December 2013, during the review process of this paper.
Habitat:
This species was found growing in the same habitat as B. boiteaui Hervouet, sp. nov. on Ambondrombe massif, but has also been collected in Andringitra National Park (about 60 km from Ambondrombe in the south-west direction) with a similar habitat on large prairies and rocks.
Distribution:
Madagascar
References:
Two new species of the genus Benthamia A. Rich. (Orchidaceae) from Madagascar, B. boiteaui Hervouet, sp. nov. and B. bosseri Hervouet, sp. nov.by Jean-Michel HERVOUET, Pascal DESCOURVIÈRES, Félicitée REJO FIENENA Jaona RANAIVO, ADANSONIA, sér. 3 • 2014

Benthamia boiteaui Hervouet, Adansonia, sér. 3, 36: 213 (2014).
Description:
Terrestrial herb with erect, cylindrical, and green stems 33-38 cm long, 0.2 cm in diameter. One or two sheaths at the stem base, 2 to 3 leaves in the lower ⅔ of the stem length. Leaves sheathing, thin, ﬂexible, linear, acute, 50-130 × 5-8 mm. One or two sterile bracts in upper part of stem, linear, acute, 15-30 × 2-3 mm. Inﬂorescence terminal, erect, 17-33 ﬂowered. Rachis 5-8 cm long. Bracts acicular, longer than ovary, 6-11 × 2 mm. Flowers white, resupinate. Dorsal sepal elliptic, obtuse with slightly concave rounded apex, 3-5 mm long, 2-3 mm wide. Lateral sepals elliptic, 4-5 × 2-3 mm, with one visible vein, slightly keeled dorsally, slightly ventrally concave, apex rounded or subacute, margin smooth. Petals elliptic, 3-4 × 2 mm, with one visible vein, apex rounded or subacute, margin smooth or slightly irregular. Lip 3-lobed, 3-4 × 2.5-3.0 mm, side lobes acute, 0.5 mm, middle lobe slightly inﬂated, 1.0-1.3 mm long, spur green, very short and obtuse, touching the ovary. Ovary 6-7 mm long, 2-3 mm in diameter. Pollinia 2.
Etymology:
This species is dedicated to Pierre Boiteau (19111980), collector of the type. He was a professor, botanist and director of the Tsimbazaza botanical and zoological garden in Antananarivo, from 1935 to 1947. As a whole he produced about 700 articles and ten books. During the month of April 1941, he did a 10-day ﬁeld survey of Betsileo country, Mount Tsitondroina and Mount Ambondrombe. More than 700 herbarium specimens and 250 living plants were brought back to Tsimbazaza.

Habitat:
This species seems restricted to high altitude areas with patches of prairies among granite or gneiss outcrops, interspersed with ericoid shrubs and small trees, or mossy forest. It is known so far only from the higher altitudes of the Ambondrombe Mountain (Haute Matsiatra region) from 1700 to 1900 m, on wet rocks in full sun or in more shaded areas in the mossy forest.
Phenology:
Fowers in March and April, with Benthamia herminioides Schltr. In Ambondrombe in the same area the terrestrial Disa brevicornis (Lindley) Bolus and the epiphytic Eulophiella galbana (Ridley) Bosser & Morat ﬂower in January (Guérin & Hervouet 2013), Jumellea ibityana Schltr. ﬂowers in March (Guérin & Hervouet 2011).
Distribution:
Madagascar
References:
Two new species of the genus Benthamia A. Rich. (Orchidaceae) from Madagascar, B. boiteaui Hervouet, sp. nov. and B. bosseri Hervouet, sp. nov.by Jean-Michel HERVOUET, Pascal DESCOURVIÈRES, Félicitée REJO FIENENA Jaona RANAIVO, ADANSONIA, sér. 3 • 2014

Benthamia chlorantha (Spreng.) Garay & G.A.Romero, Harvard Pap. Bot. 3: 53 (1998).
Homotypic Names:
Habenaria chlorantha Spreng., Syst. Veg. 3: 691 (1826).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Satorkis latisatis Thouars, Hist. Orchid.: t. 10 (1822).
Satyrium latifolium Thouars, Hist. Orchid.: t. 10 (1822), nom. illeg.
Benthamia latifolia A.Rich., Mém. Soc. Hist. Nat. Paris 4: 38 (1828), nom. superfl.
Herminium latifolium (A.Rich.) Lindl., Edwards's Bot. Reg. 18: t. 1499 (1832).
Peristylus latifolius (A.Rich.) Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 297 (1835).
Habenaria latifolia (A.Rich.) T.Durand & Schinz, Consp. Fl. Afric. 5: 80 (1894), nom. illeg.
Description:
Caule basi folioso, foliis 2-3 ovali-oblongis acutis basi amplexicaulibus spica longissimi cylindrecea, labello concavo obsolete trilobo acuminate petalis conformi, calcare apice inflato.
Habitat:
No data.
Distribution:
Mascarenes
References:
The Genera and Species of Orchideous Plants: Malaxideae of John Lindley 1830
Images:
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Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ

Photograph P. Bernet ©Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Herbarium Jany Renz Image used with kind permission.	Photograph P. Bernet ©Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Herbarium Jany Renz Image used with kind permission.	Photograph P. Bernet ©Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Herbarium Jany Renz Image used with kind permission.	Photograph P. Bernet ©Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Herbarium Jany Renz Image used with kind permission.