Benthamia boiteaui Hervouet, 2014

Hervouet, Jean-Michel, Descourvières, Pascal, Fienena, Félicitée Rejo & Ranaivo, Jaona, 2014, Two new species of the genus Benthamia A. Rich. (Orchidaceae) from Madagascar, B. boiteaui Hervouet, sp. nov. and B. bosseri Hervouet, sp. nov., Adansonia (3) 36 (2), pp. 209-219 : 213

Benthamia boiteaui Hervouet , sp. nov.

( Figs 1 ; 2 )

Herba terrestris 33-38 cm alta, Benthamiae melanopodae Schltr. similis, sed floribus albis, non galbinis differt. Benthamiae madagascariensi (Rolfe) Schltr. habitu vicina, sed ab forma florum distat, cum sepalo dorsalo elliptico, non lineare. Benthamiae herminioide floribus latioribus differt.

TYPUS. — Madagascar. Fianarantsoa Province, Haute Matsiatra Region, Near summit of Ambondrombe , among wet rocks, 1900 m [approximate coordinates: 21°52’29”S, 47°15’37”E], fl., 11.IV.1941, Boiteau 4621 (holo-, P [ P00692438 !, 2 individuals]) .

PARATYPES. — Madagascar. Fianarantsoa Province, Haute Matsiatra Region, Ambondrombe, mossy forest around 1700 m, fl., 11.IV.1941, Boiteau 4637 ( P [ P00692439 !, 1 individual; P00692440 !, 3 individuals]); Ranomafana National Park , vicinity of Ampasina , 1150 m [approximate coordinates 21°11’S, 47°25’E], fl., 10.III.1995, Turk, Randrianasolo & Rajoma 722 ( K!, MO, TAN) .

Figures

FIG. 1. — Benthamia boiteaui Hervouet,sp. nov.: A, habit (after wild specimen); B, flower (Boiteau 4621); C, side view of flower; D, exploded view of perianth. Scale bars: A, 50 mm; B, 2 mm; C, D, 3 mm. Drawing by Alain Jouy.

FIG. 2. — Benthamia boiteaui Hervouet, sp. nov.: spike of a wild specimen at the summit of Ambondrombe (9.III.2009). Photograph by Jean-Michel Hervouet.