Revision of the genus Benthamia A. Rich. (Orchidaceae, Orchidioideae, Habenariinae) Hervouet, Jean-Michel Descourvières, Pascal Hermans, Johan Longou, Ludivine Adansonia 2025 3 2025-07-21 47 11 171 249 Hervouet & Descourv. Hervouet & Descourvières & Hermans & Longou 2025 [852,1324,1013,1040] Liliopsida Orchidaceae Benthamia Plantae Asparagales 51 220 Tracheophyta species mascula sp. nov.  ( Figs 69; 70; 71; 72)   DIAGNOSIS. — Similar to  Benthamia africanabut differing by the clearly trilobed lip (vs obscurely trilobed), the absence of a callus on the lip, the larger scrotiform spur and the 2-3 leaves in the middle of the stem (vs basal or in the lowest part of the stem), it differs from  Benthamia perfecundaby the secund rachis (vs in three ranks), flowers that are not autogamous (vs autogamous), smaller leaves and a lax rachis (vs dense).    TYPE  MATERIAL. —   France,  La Réunion• Sentier du Bras Cabot, îlet de Patience; 21°06’S, 55°37’E;  7.IV.1978;  J. Bosser22460; holotype: P[ P00738370]!.   ETYMOLOGY. — Referring to the proportionally large scrotumshaped spur.   PHENOLOGY. — March to May.   DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY. — La Réunionand Madagascar. Widespread in La Réunionand so far only known from photographs from Ambondrombe in Madagascar, in montane grassland. From 1600 to 2300 m( Fig. 73).   CONSERVATION. — This species is not very rare in La Réunion, and has largely been overlooked, it is found in protected areas in La Réunion. It is thus considered of Least Concern (LC). In Madagascarit is provisionally considered Data Deficient (DD).   ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS EXAMINED. —   Madagascar• Haute Matsiatra, summit of Ambondrombe; 21°52’30”S, 47°15’37”E; alt.  1875 m;  10.IV.2018; photograph by Jean-Michel Hervouet ( Fig. 69).   France, La Réunion• Massif de la Fournaise, Ramon crater area; 21°17’41”S, 55°42’22”E; alt.  2000 m;  15.II.1971;  T. Cadet3045and 3046; REU[ REU006428, REU006429]! •  Plaine des Salazes; 21°06’S, 55°32’E; alt.  2500 m;  3.III.1971;  T. Cadet3134; REU[ REU017471]!•  Salazie plain; 21°06’S, 55°32’E; alt.  1500 m;  7.III.1971;  T. Cadet3136; REU[ REU006430]! •  Brûlé de Saint-Denis; 20°55’S, 55°26’E;  2.V.1974;  J. Bosser21924; P[ P00738536]! •  Takamaka; 21°05’S, 55°38’E;  24.V.1974;  J. Bosser22050; P[ P00738381]! •  Sentier du Bras Cabot, îlet de Patience; 21°06’S, 55°37’E;  7.IV.1978;  J. Bosser22472; P[ P00738367]! •  Hauts de Sainte-Rose; 21°09’S, 55°45’E;  18.IV.1978;  J. Bosser22521; P[ P00738517]! •  Morne des patates à Durand; alt.  1000-1100 m; 20°56’S, 55°27’E;  5.V.1978;  J. Bosser22448; P[ P00738376]! •  Plaine des Fougères; 21°00’15”S, 55°29’21”E; alt.  1200 m;  28.V.2003;  T. Pailler TP79and TP79.2; REU[ REU006442, REU007937except plant on the right]! •  L’Étang-Salé, source of La Nouvelle Bras Sec; alt.  1300 m;  II.2004;  V. Grondinet al. 1014; CBNM! •  Plaine des Palmistes, sentier Piton Bébour; 21°07’41”S, 55°33’43”E;  26.II.2004;  J. Férardet al. 1009; CBNM! •  Piton Rouge, Plaine des Cafres; 21°09’S, 55°34’E; alt.  1900 m;  9.III.2004;  T. PaillerTP162and TP163; REU[ REU006440, REU006424]! •  Route du Volcan, vers Le Piton de l’Eau; 21°11’02”S, 55°40’28”E; alt.  2100-2200 m;  15.III.2007;  F. MartosFM88and FM89; REU[ REU007631, REU007632]! •  Plaine des Palmistes, Piton des Cabris; 21°09’24”S, 55°39’03”E; alt.  1200 m;  21.V.2008;  F. MartosFM318and FM319; REU[ REU007893, REU007902]! •  Route du Volcan, vers Le Piton de l’Eau; 21°11’02”S, 55°40’28”E;  21.V.2008;  F. MartosFM348and FM349; REU[ REU007892, REU007901]!.   NOTES The species also seems to be in Madagascar, according to photographs from Ambondrombe, however no herbarium specimen from this island has been located so far. The position of the leaves on the stem is similar to  Benthamia macraSchltr.from Madagascarbut the latter has a smaller spur, different bracts (acicular and shorter than ovary in  Benthamia mascula sp. nov., lanceolate acuminate and longer than ovary in  Benthamia macra), the flowers are smaller (lip at most 2.5 mmlong vs 4 mmfor  Benthamia macra) and the rachis is denser. It is apparent on some specimens that not all the flowers are pollinated and some remain fresh late in the season, while others are fruiting on the same rachis, it is thus probably allogamous.   FIG. 70. —  Benthamia masculaHervouet & Descourv., sp. nov., Le Brûlé, La Réunion, 18 April 2018. Photograph by Jean-Michel Hervouet. See also: Bernet (2010: 139, as  Benthamiasp. 2), Szelengowicz & Tamon (2013: 245, as  Benthamia herminioidessubsp. arcuataH.Perrier, photograph on the right only).   DESCRIPTION Erect terrestrial herb, 25-60 cmtall. Tubers 2, digitate, up to 25 mmlong, roots thick, starting from the junction between stem and tubers. Stem 2-5 mmin diameter, with 2 basal sheaths, then leaves in the middle, then 3-4(7) acicular sterile bracts, 1-2 cmlong. Leaves 2-3, cauline, narrowly ovate or elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, erect, 4-8 cm× 4-12 mmfor the larger. Rachis unilateral, lax, 5-13 cmlong, with 5-10 mmbetween successive flowers, bearing 7-30(50) flowers. Floral bract nearly as long or ¾ of the length of the ovary. Ovary 4-8 mmlong, at right angle to the rachis when mature. Flowers greenish, partly closed except the spreading lateral sepals, around 2-3 mmlong; dorsal sepal elliptic, concave, 1-veined, apex rounded, 1.8-2 × 0.8-1.1 mm; lateral sepals obliquely elliptic, concave, 1-veined, apex subacute or obtuse, 1.6-2.3 × 1-1.2 mm; petals more or less obliquely elliptic, 1-veined, apex subacute, 1.8-2 × 1 mm, forming a hood with the dorsal sepal. Lip 1.5-2.5 × 2-3 mm, trilobed in upper third, with thick lobes, without callus, smooth and glossy, canaliculate, with the lateral lobes slightly shorter then midlobe, forming with the perianth a narrow entrance into the spur; spur markedly bilobed, scrotiform, 1 mmlong, nearly as wide as long, narrowed at base. Column subterete, 0.6 mmlong, with two basal auricles shorter than the column, rectangular, with distal margin irregular. 5898708995 1978-04-07 P J. Bosser France -21.1 ilet de Patience 1265 55.616665 Sentier du Bras Cabot 51 220 P00738370 1 La Reunion holotype 5898708419 2018-04-10 Madagascar 1875 -21.875 Haute Matsiatra 21 47.260277 51 220 1 5898708363 1971-02-15 REU T. Cadet France 2000 -21.294722 Massif de la Fournaise 21 55.706112 La Reunion 51 220 REU006428, REU006429 1 5898708687 1971-03-03 REU T. Cadet France 2500 -21.1 Plaine des Salazes 1265 55.533333 Plaine des Salazes 51 220 REU017471 1 5898708364 1971-03-07 REU T. Cadet France 1500 -21.1 Salazie plain 1265 55.533333 51 220 REU006430 1 5898708308 1974-05-02 P J. Bosser France 52 221 -20.916666 Brule de Saint-Denis 1266 55.433334 Brule de Saint-Denis 51 220 P00738536 1 5898709124 1974-05-24 P J. Bosser France -21.083334 Takamaka 1265 55.633335 Takamaka 52 221 P00738381 1 5898708390 1978-04-07 P J. Bosser France -21.1 Sentier du Bras Cabot 1265 55.616665 52 221 P00738367 1 5898708836 1978-04-18 P J. Bosser France -21.15 Hauts de Sainte-Rose 1265 55.75 Hauts de Sainte-Rose 52 221 P00738517 1 5898708969 1978-05-05 P J. Bosser France 1050 -20.933332 Morne des patates a Durand 1266 55.45 52 221 P00738376 1 5898708775 2003-05-28 REU T. Pailler TP France 1200 -21.004168 Plaine des Fougeres 21 55.489166 Plaine des Fougeres 52 221 REU006442, REU007937 1 5898709000 2004-02 CBNM V. Grondin France 1300 source of La Nouvelle Bras Sec L'Etang-Sale 52 221 1 5898708932 2004-02-26 CBNM J. Ferard France -21.128056 Plaine des Palmistes 21 55.561943 52 221 1 5898708846 2004-03-09 REU T. Pailler France 1900 -21.15 Piton Rouge 1265 55.566666 Plaine des Cafres 52 221 REU006440, REU006424 1 5898708749 2007-03-15 REU F. Martos France 2150 -21.183887 Route du Volcan 21 55.674446 Le Piton de l'Eau 52 221 REU007631, REU007632 1 5898708741 2008-05-21 REU F. Martos France 1200 -21.156666 Plaine des Palmistes 21 55.650833 Piton des Cabris 52 221 REU007893, REU007902 1 5898708717 2008-05-21 REU F. Martos France -21.183887 Route du Volcan 21 55.674446 Le Piton de l'Eau 52 221 REU007892, REU007901 1