Neobathiea, abbreviated as Nbth in the horticultural trade, is a monophyletic genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of rare orchids (family (Orchidaceae

Orchidaceae

The Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...

), native to tropical moist broadleaf forests of Madagascar

Madagascar

The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...

 and the Comoro Islands

Comoro Islands

The Comoros Islands form an archipelago of volcanic islands situated off the south-east coast of Africa, to the east of Mozambique and north-west of Madagascar. They are divided between the sovereign state of Comoros and the French overseas department of Mayotte...

. The genus is named for the French botanist

Botany

Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...

 Henri Perrier de la Bâthie.

The species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 include small, monopodial epiphyte

Epiphyte

An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...

s, with relatively large white, green, or green-and-white flowers with a long spur at the base of the lip.

The long-spurred Neobathiea grandidierana from Madagascar is pollinated by a long-tongued sphinginid hawkmoth Panogena lingens

Panogena lingens

Panogena lingens is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is known from Madagascar and the Comoro Islands.It is similar, but much darker than Panogena jasmini. The abdomen has yellow lateral patches. The hindwing upperside is black at the extreme base....

with the pollinaria deposited on the basal part of the proboscis

Proboscis

A proboscis is an elongated appendage from the head of an animal, either a vertebrate or an invertebrate. In simpler terms, a proboscis is the straw-like mouth found in several varieties of species.-Etymology:...

 of the moth.

Synonyms

• Neobathiea filicornu Schltr is a synonym of Neobathiea grandidierana (Rchb.f.) Garay
• Neobathiea gracilis Schltr and Neobathiea sambiranoensis Schltr are synonyms of Aeranthes schlechteri Bosser.