Cyrtandra gorontaloensis 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 : 46-49

12. Cyrtandra gorontaloensis H.J.Atkins , Edinburgh J. Bot. 60(3): 307 (2004).

– Type: Indonesia, Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Mt Gambuta , 12 iv 2002, Atkins et al. 91 (holotype BO; isotypes E, L). Figure 25 .

Branching shrub to 2 m in height. Stems striate, sparsely hairy, more densely so when young. Leaves appearing alternate, occasionally opposite with one of each pair vestigial and scale-like; petiole (5–) 10–15 mm long, hairy; blade of developed leaf (4–)7–11.5 × 1.5–3.5 cm, narrow oblong to oblanceolate, base acute and slightly asymmetrical, margin subentire, apex acuminate; 4 or 5 pairs of lateral veins curving towards margin, occasionally branching, tertiary venation sparse, subglabrous above and below, sparsely hairy on midrib and veins and along margin. Reduced leaves (where present) c.5 × 1 mm, scale-like. Inflorescences axillary, 1- or 2-flowered, subsessile; peduncles up to 3 mm long, hairy; bracts 1–1.5 mm long, narrow ovate to linear; pedicels (5–) 15–30 mm long, hairy. Calyx 7–10 mm long, pale green, three upper lobes united into a shallowly notched limb, two lower lobes similarly united, hairy externally. Corolla creamy white to pale yellow, 14–20 mm long, tube narrow below, gradually widening to mouth, lobes rounded, not recurved, upper lobes c.4 × 4 mm, lower and lateral lobes slightly larger c.5 × 5 mm, white-hairy externally. Stamens with filaments 3–4 mm long, attached c. 12 mm from base of corolla, glabrous, white; anthers c. 1.5 mm long, cohering at apices before dehiscence, brown; staminodes 3, 1 mm long. Gynoecium 8–16 mm long; disc unilateral, with a slightly lobed margin, 1–1.5 mm long, glabrous externally, hairy internally and with a fringe of hairs; ovary densely hairy; style densely hairy, glandular towards apex; stigma bilobed, c. 1 mm across. Fruits ovoid to oblong, green, 12–18 × 5–6 mm, hairy, calyx not persistent, base of style persistent.

Distribution. North Sulawesi and Gorontalo (see Figure 29 ).

Habitat and ecology. Upland forest at an altitude of 1300–1500 m.

Etymology. This species is named after the northern Sulawesi province of Gorontalo, from where the type specimen was collected ( Atkins, 2004).

Proposed IUCN conservation category. The EOO of this species is 1613 km 2 and the EOO is 16 km 2, based on a 2 × 2 km grid cell size, under the B criteria ( Bachman et al., 2011). One of the collection localities falls within the boundaries of the Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park and one just outside, and two others are in the Mount Ambang Nature Reserve (UNEP-WCMC & IUCN, 2019), therefore their populations should be provided with some level of protection. All the collections are from upland forest between 1300 and 1500 m, which in Sulawesi is a less threatened habitat than lowland areas ( Cannon et al., 2007). Cyrtandra gorontaloensis is therefore considered to be of Least Concern (LC) due to the higher level of protection and low perceived threat ( Cannon et al., 2007).

Additional specimens examined. INDONESIA. North Sulawesi. Bolaang Mongondow: Dumoga Bone National Park [Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park], vicinity of Mt Sinombayuga, 1400 m, 30 ix 1991, Milliken 1131 (L); East Bolaang Mongondow: Mt Ambang Nature Reserve, 1337 m, 2 xi 2016, Barber, Atkins, Kartonegoro & Kinho BAKK43 (BO, E); Paya-paya area of Mt Ambang range, 4 xi 2016, Barber, Atkins, Kartonegoro & Kinho BAKK68 (BO, E).

Cyrtandra gorontaloensis is part of a group in Sulawesi that share the characteristics of strongly anisophyllous leaves; white or yellow corollas; and densely hairy calyces, corollas and fruits. This species is distinctive within this group by its combination of seemingly alternate leaves (and reduced scale-like rather than cordate leaves, where present), sparse tertiary venation, unilateral disc, and style with glandular hairs towards the apex.

The species was first described from two collections from the Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park. Two recent collections from Mount Ambang (Barber et al. BAKK43 and BAKK68) with slightly shorter pedicels than the type and occasionally two flowers per inflorescence have allowed the original description, and its distribution, to be updated.

Figures

Figure 25. Cyrtandra gorontaloensis. a, Habit; b, opened corolla, showing position of stamens and staminodes; c, opened calyx, showing inner surface; d, gynoecium. Drawn by Christina Oliver from Atkins et al. 91 and Milliken 1131. Reproduced from Atkins (2004) 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).