Holothrix glaberrima Ridl. , Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany, vol. 22: 125 ( Ridley 1886 ) Peristylus glaberrima (Ridl.) Rolfe , Orchid Review 7 (73): 4 ( Rolfe 1899 ) Platanthera glaberrima (Ridl.) Kraenzl. , Orchidacearum Genera et Species , vol. 1: 609 ( Kraenzlin 1899 ) Habenaria glaberrima (Ridl.) Schltr., Beihefte zum Botanischen Centralblatt 33: 405 ( Schlechter 1915 ) Rolfeella glaberrima (Ridl.) Schltr ., Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis 33: 18 ( Schlechter 1924 ) Habenaria deceptrix Baron ex Ridley 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 LHMC (Ridl.) H. Perrier H. Perrier Ridl. [238,669,1491,1519] Liliopsida Orchidaceae Benthamia Plantae Asparagales 35 204 Tracheophyta species glaberrima  ( Fig. 45)   Bulletin de la Société botanique de France81 ( Perrier 1934: 28). —   Holothrix glaberrimaRidl.,  Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany,vol. 22: 125 ( Ridley 1886); Perrier (1939: 22). —   Peristylus glaberrima(Ridl.) Rolfe, Orchid Review7 (73): 4 ( Rolfe 1899). —   Platanthera glaberrima(Ridl.) Kraenzl., Orchidacearum Genera et Species, vol. 1: 609 ( Kraenzlin 1899). —   Habenaria glaberrima(Ridl.) Schltr., Beihefte zum Botanischen Centralblatt33: 405 ( Schlechter 1915). —   Rolfeella glaberrima(Ridl.) Schltr., Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis33: 18 ( Schlechter 1924).   Habenaria deceptrixBaron ex Ridley, nomen nudumin Baron’s “ Compendium des plantes Malgaches”. Revue de Madagascar, vol. 3, no. 10: 722 ( Baron 1901).    TYPE  MATERIAL. —   Madagascar• Analamanga, Ambatovory; 18°54’S, 47°42’E;  III.1882;  J.T. Fox23; holotype: K[ K000415546]!.   ETYMOLOGY. — From Latin “ glaber”, glabrous, with superlative ending “ rima” thus completely smooth, without hairs.   PHENOLOGY. — January to May.   DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY. —Restricted to the central mountains and plateaux of Madagascar, from 1500 to 2250 m, in dry montane grasslands, also rocky outcrops and sometimes humid places ( Fig. 46).   CONSERVATION. — Widespread in Madagascar, this species is considered of Least Concern (LC). However, it was considered Near Threatened (NT) by IUCN in 2015 (https://doi.org/10.2305/ IUCN. UK.2015-2.RLTS.T68002690A68015027.en).   ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS EXAMINED. —   Madagascar• Imerina;  R. Baron849; BM! • sine loc.;  Deans Cowan23; BM!, B!, M000032247! •  sine loc.;  B. Petterssonet al. 221; K! flowers in spirit [K55124.000] •  Montagnes d’Amoron Kay, est de l’Imerina; alt.  1600-1900 m;  H. Rusillon166; G! •  Ambatovory;  III.1886;  J.T. Fox23; K! ex LDS•  north west,  IX.1887;  R. Baron5240; K! mounted with G.F. Scott Elliot1944and  Baron849•  Near Mahabo; 19°07’S, 46°58’E; received  IV.1890;  G.F. Scott Elliot1944; K! • Vakinankaratra, cime du Famoizankova près d’Antsirabe; 19°39’32”S, 47°03’48”E; alt.  2200 m;  V.1912;  H. Perrier11385; P[ P00094511]! •  Vakinankaratra, pente du mont Ibity au sud d’Antsirabe; alt.  1800-2200 m; 20°05’44”S, 47°00’12”E;  II.1914;  H. Perrier8087; P[ P00094510the plant on the right is  Benthamia rostrata]! •  Haute Matsiatra, massif d’Andringitra; alt.  2000 m;  I.1922;  H. Perrier14326; P[ P00094512]! •  Vakinankaratra, flanc Est du Tsiafajavona; 19°19’58”S, 47°16’08”E; alt.  2000 m; 1928;  H. Perrier13518; P[ P00094508, P00094509]! •  Analamanga, massif de l’Angavo près d’Ankazobe; 18°14’S, 47°02’E;  10.III.1930;  R. Decary7325; P[ P00094505]! •  Analamanga, Tampoketsa au nord d’Ankazobe; 18°12’56”S, 47°17’17”E;  12.III.1930;  R. Decary7453; P[ P00094504]!, TAN•  Analamanga, massif de l’Angavo près d’Ankazobe; 18°14’S, 47°02’E;  16.III.1930;  R. Decary7600; P[ P00094506]! •  Amoron’i Mania, montagnes à l’ouest d’Itremo; 20°34’12”S, 46°34’55”E; alt.  1500-1700 m; 1955;  H. Humbert30055; P[ P00692284all but second specimen]!, P[ P00692285specimen on the right only]!,  P[ P00692286]!,  TAN! •  Vakinankaratra, environs de Faratsiho (face ouest de l’Ankaratra); 19°24’S, 46°57’E; alt.  1800 m;  II.1957;  J. Bosser10864; P[ P00094507]!,  TAN! •  Analamanga, Iarinandriana,  40 kmfrom Antananarivo; 19°10’S, 47°30’E;  IV.1957;  J. Bosser11061; TAN! •  Vakinankaratra, massif de l’Ibity; 20°10’S, 47°01’E;  19.III.1960;  M. Peltier2112; P[ P00692291]! •  Amoron’i Mania, Ambositra, Anjoma;  III.1960;  J. & M. Peltier2173; TAN! plant on the right•  Amoron’i Mania, route Ambositra à Ambatofinandrahana; 20°40’03”S, 47°08’03”E;  III.1960;  M. Keraudren148; P[ P00692288, plant in the middle only]! •  Haute Matsiatra, route Ambositra à Ambatofiterahanaà  99 kmde l’embranchement d’Ivato; 20°40’03”S, 47°08’03”E;  III.1960;  M. Keraudren157; P[ P00692289]! •  Vakinankaratra, col des Tapias,  45 kmavant Ambositra; 20°14’34”S, 47°06’04”E;  IV.1964;  J. Bosser19597; P[ P00692258]! •  Haute Matsiatra, Andringitra Forest Reserve, along path to Pic Boby; 22°11’S, 46°55’E; alt.  1900-2050 m;  23.III.1989;  P. Goldblattet al. 8965; K!,  MO[ MO3011473]! •  Vakinankaratra, Ankaratra Massif W of Ambatolampy; 19°20’S, 47°16’E;  III.1989;  P. Goldblattet al. 9011; K!,  MO[ MO4314444]! •  Analamanga, c.  85 kmin direction Ankazobe; 18°15’59”S, 47°10’53”E;.  XII.1998;  W. RauhR21598; HEID[ HEID744389]! •  Vakinankaratra, Ibity, Mt. Kiboy; 20°05’44”S, 47°00’12”E; alt.  1600 m; 1999;  J. Hermans2410; K! •  Haute Matsiatra, Ambondrombe; alt.  2000 m; 1999;  J. Hermans4406; K! •  Amoron’i Mania, Ambatofinandrahana, W of Itremo; 20°34’12”S, 46°34’55”E; 2002;  J.Hermans3382; K!•  Vakinanakaratra, Ibity Massif; 20°04’10”S, 47°00’16”E; alt.  1700 m;  II.2003;  G.E. Schatzet al. 4097; TAN!,  MO! •  Vakinanakaratra, Ibity Massif; alt.  1700 m;  17.II.2003;  G.E. Schatzet al. 4139; MO[ MO3022642]! •  Haute Matsiatra, Andringitra; alt.  1987 m;  I.2005;  G. Fischeret al. FS2031-2005; WU0848511! •  Vakinankaratra, Mt. Ibity, Ankobohy; 20°04’30”S, 47°00’47”E;  II.2007;  T. Ranariveloet al. 465; TAN!,  K! •  Amoron’i Mania, Ambatofinandrahana, Itremo massif, about  25 kmfrom Itremo village; 20°33’42”S, 46°33’49”E; alt.  1647 m;  II.2010;  L.R. Rajaovelona et al. RJL145; K!,  TAN! • Haute Matsiatra, RN7 PK420.7, bifurcation à droite vers la commune d’Andoharanomaitso; 21°30’07”S, 46°58’43”E; alt.  1293 m;  14.III.2010;  L. Ramandimbisoaet al. 58; P[ P06773266]!.   NOTES The species can be easily recognised in herbaria by its basal leaves followed by a series of prominent long acuminate sheaths, then by its dense rachis and also by its long and filiform spur. See also: Cribb & Hermans (2009: 40), Bosser & Lecoufle (2011: 176), Hervouet (2018: 164).   DESCRIPTION Erect terrestrial herb, 30-60 cmtall. Tubers 4-5, bunched, oblong-fusiform; Stem 2-3 mmin diameter, with a single radical sheathing leaf, higher covered by 6-11 acuminate sheaths 20-35 mmlong. Leaf narrowly lanceolate-acute, 8.5- 16 × 0.9-1.4 cm, very gradually narrowed towards the base, 5-veined. Rachis very dense, with 20-55 flowers, unilateral, 5-19 cmlong. Floral bracts lanceolate, longly acuminate, 10-20 × 2.5-5 mm, normally longer than the flower. Ovary twisted, 5.5-10 × 1-2.5 mm. Flowers small, sulphur yellow; all sepals narrowly ligulate, a little fused to the petals at the base, dorsal sepal 5.1-7.5 × 0.6-1.3 mm, lateral sepals 4.5-8 × 0.5-1.8 mm; petals lanceolate, 5.2-8 × 0.6-2.1 mm, slightly longer than the sepals; lip oval in outline, 5.2-7.5 × 3-4.5 mm, obviously trilobed, a little fused with the sepals at the extreme base; midlobe oval-acute, the lateral lobes much smaller; spur filiform, pendent, 7.2-10 × 0.5-1.2 mm, a little longer than the ovary. Column straight, 1.1-2 × 0.9-1.5 mm; anther obtuse or subapiculate; auricles small, rounded, pollinia claviform with a very short caudicula; rostellum small, tridentate. 5898708386 1882-03 K J. T. Fox Madagascar -18.9 Ambatovory 1273 47.7 Analamanga 35 204 K000415546 1 holotype 5898708399 BM R. Baron Madagascar Imerina 35 204 1 5898708612 [933,1435,593,617] BM, B Deans Cowan 35 204 M000032247 1 5898708382 [813,1434,619,644] K B. Pettersson 35 204 1 5898708515 G H. Rusillon 1750 Montagnes d'Amoron Kay 35 204 1 5898708331 [992,1439,673,697] 1886-03 K, LDS Ambatovory & J. T. Fox 35 204 1 5898709002 1887-09 K R. Baron & Scott Elliot & Baron north west 35 204 1 5898709064 1890-04 K G. F. Scott Elliot -19.116667 Near Mahabo 1273 46.966667 35 204 1 5898708367 1912-05 P H. Perrier 2200 -19.658888 cime du Famoizankova pres d'Antsirabe 21 47.06333 35 204 P00094511 1 5898708923 1914-02 P H. Perrier 2000 -20.095556 Vakinankaratra 21 47.003334 35 204 P00094510 1 5898708566 1922-01 P H. Perrier 2000 Haute Matsiatra 35 204 P00094512 1 5898709123 P H. Perrier 2000 -19.332779 Vakinankaratra 21 47.26889 35 204 P00094508, P00094509 1 5898708388 1930-03-10 P R. Decary -18.233334 Analamanga 1276 47.033333 35 204 P00094505 1 5898708723 1930-03-12 P, TAN R. Decary -18.215557 Analamanga 21 47.288055 35 204 P00094504 1 5898708867 1930-03-16 P R. Decary -18.233334 Analamanga 1276 47.033333 35 204 P00094506 1 5898708898 P H. Humbert 1600 -20.570002 Amoron'i Mania 21 46.581944 35 204 P00692284, P00692285 1 5898708999 [961,1116,1205,1229] P 21 35 204 P00692286 1 5898708778 [1119,1172,1205,1229] TAN 21 35 204 1 5898708680 1957-02 P J. Bosser 1800 -19.4 Vakinankaratra 1271 46.95 35 204 P00094507 1 5898708497 [1209,1262,1258,1282] TAN 1271 35 204 1 5898708341 1957-04 TAN J. Bosser -19.166666 Analamanga 1273 47.5 35 204 1 Antananarivo 5898708837 1960-03-19 P M. Peltier -20.166666 Vakinankaratra 1268 47.016666 35 204 P00692291 1 Antananarivo 5898708335 1960-03 TAN J & M. Peltier Amoron'i Mania 35 204 1 Antananarivo 5898709114 1960-03 P M. Keraudren -20.6675 Amoron'i Mania 21 47.134167 35 204 P00692288 1 Antananarivo 5898708547 1960-03 P M. Keraudren -20.6675 Haute Matsiatra 21 47.134167 35 204 P00692289 1 Antananarivo 5898708751 1964-04 P J. Bosser -20.242779 Vakinankaratra 21 47.10111 35 204 P00692258 1 Antananarivo 5898708338 1989-03-23 K P. Goldblatt 1975 -22.183332 Haute Matsiatra 1261 46.916668 35 204 1 Antananarivo 5898708365 [1083,1276,1631,1655] 1989-03-23 MO P. Goldblatt 1975 -22.183332 Haute Matsiatra 1261 46.916668 35 204 MO3011473 1 Antananarivo 5898708708 1989-03 K P. Goldblatt -19.333334 Vakinankaratra 1272 47.266666 35 204 1 Antananarivo 5898708303 [1040,1229,1684,1708] 1989-03 MO P. Goldblatt -19.333334 Vakinankaratra 1272 47.266666 35 204 MO4314444 1 Antananarivo 5898708686 1998-12 HEID W. Rauh -18.266388 Analamanga 21 47.18139 35 204 HEID744389 1 Antananarivo 5898709145 K J. Hermans 1600 -20.095556 Vakinankaratra 21 47.003334 35 204 1 Antananarivo 5898708851 K J. Hermans 2000 Haute Matsiatra 35 204 1 Antananarivo 5898708977 K J. Hermans -20.570002 Amoron'i Mania 21 46.581944 35 204 1 Antananarivo 5898708632 2003-02 TAN G. E. Schatz 1700 -20.069445 Vakinanakaratra 21 47.004444 35 204 1 Antananarivo 5898708881 [1060,1105,1897,1921] 2003-02 MO G. E. Schatz 1700 -20.069445 Vakinanakaratra 21 47.004444 35 204 1 Antananarivo 5898708833 2003-02-17 MO G. E. Schatz 1700 Vakinanakaratra 35 204 MO3022642 1 Antananarivo 5898708789 2005-01 WU G. Fischer 1987 Haute Matsiatra 35 204 WU0848511 1 Antananarivo 5898708856 2007-02 TAN T. Ranarivelo -20.075 Vakinankaratra 21 47.013054 35 204 1 Antananarivo 5898708978 [1419,1438,2003,2027] 2007-02 K T. Ranarivelo -20.075 Vakinankaratra 21 47.013054 35 204 1 Antananarivo 5898709149 2010-02 K L. R. Rajaovelona et al. 1647 -20.561666 Amoron'i Mania 21 46.56361 36 205 RJL145 1 Antananarivo 5898708605 [475,528,268,292] 2010-02 TAN L. R. Rajaovelona et al. 1647 -20.561666 Amoron'i Mania 21 46.56361 36 205 1 Antananarivo 5898708560 2010-03-14 P L. Ramandimbisoa 1293 -21.501944 RN 7 PK 420.7 21 46.97861 36 205 P06773266 1 Antananarivo