Cyrtandra hispidula Karton. & H.J.Atkins

Atkins, H. J. & Kartonegoro, A., 2021, A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF CYRTANDRA (GESNERIACEAE) IN SULAWESI, INDONESIA, Edinburgh Journal of Botany 78 (364), pp. 1-122 : 53-55

15. Cyrtandra hispidula Karton. & H.J.Atkins , Edinburgh J. Bot. 75(2): 187 (2018).

– Type: Indonesia, Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Mt Rantemario , 25 iv 2009, Thomas & Ardi 09-86 (holotype BO; isotypes E, L). Figure 28 .

Coarse herb to 1.5 m in height. Stems ridged, striate, green, densely hairy on young growth and around axils, hairs coarse, pale, 1–3.5 mm long. Leaves opposite, subequal, drying dark brown; petioles green, 2.5–5.5 cm long, densely hairy; blades 14–16 × 9–10 cm, wide elliptic to ovate, base obtuse slightly asymmetrical, margin serrate, apex acuminate; 8 or 9 pairs of lateral veins and reticulate tertiary venation, dark glossy green, slightly marbled with scattered, long hairs above, densely hairy on midrib and veins below. Inflorescences axillary, subsessile, 1- or 2-flowered; peduncle up to 5 mm long, densely hairy; bracts green, 25–40 × 8–20 mm, paired, leaf-like, broad elliptic to ovate, with a covering of dense, coarse white hairs, especially on veins, margins serrate, apex acute; pedicels green, 13–15 mm long, hairy, continuing to elongate up to 40 mm with the developing fruit. Calyx tubular, green, c. 25 mm long, lobes acuminate, lower lobes c. 10 mm long, upper lobes c. 8 mm long, hairy, densely so at the base with a distinctive fringe of hairs. Corolla white, turning brown with time, tube completely enclosed within calyx, only lobes visible, c. 18 mm long, tube glabrous externally and with a scattering of small glands in the mouth of the corolla, all lobes rounded, lateral lobes with shallowly serrate margins, upper lobes 5–6 × 4 mm, lower and lateral lobes c.8 × 5 mm. Stamens with filaments c. 3 mm long, attached c. 8 mm above the base of the corolla, straight, almost glabrous, with a few scattered, glandular hairs; anthers c. 3 mm long, with stalked glandular hairs on the back, not coherent; staminodes 3, c. 2 mm long. Gynoecium c. 12 mm long; disc cupular with undulate margin, c. 2 mm long, glabrous; ovary glabrous; style with some glandular hairs, particularly towards the apex; stigma bilobed, c. 1 mm across. Fruits oblong, glabrous, smooth, green, drying dark brown, 18–25 × 5–8 mm; calyx and base of style persistent.

Distribution. South Sulawesi: Latimojong Range ( Figure 29 ).

Habitat and ecology. Montane forest at an altitude of c. 2500 m.

Etymology. Named after its distinctive hispid indumentum on most parts of the plant ( Kartonegoro et al., 2018).

Proposed IUCN conservation category. It has not been possible to calculate EOO for Cyrtandra hispidula because of the low number of collections, but the AOO is 4 km 2, based on a 2 × 2 km grid cell size, under the B criteria ( Bachman et al., 2011). It is found in montane forest, which is not considered to be under threat, with a substantial majority of these sites across the island still in good condition ( Cannon et al., 2007). Following Kartonegoro et al. (2018), a category of Least Concern (LC) is proposed for this species because of the lack of perceived threat.

Additional specimen examined. INDONESIA. South Sulawesi. Enrekang: Latimojong Mountains, Mt Batutoding, 1913, Rachmat 916 (BO).

The combination of coarse, hispid, white indumentum, broad leaves and large, leaf-like inflorescence bracts distinguishes Cyrtandra hispidula from any other Cyrtandra species on the island.

Figures

Figure 28. Cyrtandra hispidula. a, Opened calyx, showing outer surface; b, opened corolla, showing position of stamens and staminodes; c, side view of corolla; d, gynoecium including disc and top of pedicel; e, fruit with persistent calyx partially removed; f, anthers; g, habit. Drawn by Claire Banks from Thomas & Ardi 09-86. Reproduced from Kartonegoro et al. (2018) with the permission of the Trustees of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

Figure 29. Distribution of Cyrtandra gorontaloensis (black diamonds), C. hekensis and C. hendrianii (green star) and C. hispidula (black triangle).