Cyrtandra balgooyi H.J.Atkins & Karton., 2021

Atkins, H. J. & Kartonegoro, A., 2021, A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF CYRTANDRA (GESNERIACEAE) IN SULAWESI, INDONESIA, Edinburgh Journal of Botany 78 (364), pp. 1-122 : 19-21

2. Cyrtandra balgooyi H.J.Atkins & Karton. , sp. nov.

Similar to Cyrtandra widjajae Karton. in having strongly anisophyllous leaves and densely hairy calyces, corollas and fruits but differing in leaf margin (serrate in C. balgooyi versus subentire in C. widjajae ), number of lateral vein pairs (4 or 5 pairs in C. balgooyi versus 8–14 pairs in C. widjajae ), and corolla length (corolla 20 mm long in C. balgooyi versus corolla 12–15 mm long in C. widjajae ).

– Type: Indonesia, Central Sulawesi, Danau Tambing, 23 v 1979, van Balgooy 3469 (holotype L; isotypes BO, E) . Figure 12 .

Shrub or small tree to 2.5 m in height. Stems striate, sparsely hairy, densely coarse-hairy on young growth. Leaves opposite; one leaf of a pair markedly reduced or appearing alternate; petiole 5–6 mm long, hairy; blades of larger leaves 4–7(–8) × 1.5–2.5(–3) cm, elliptic to narrow obovate, base acute, not decurrent, more or less symmetrical, margin coarsely serrate, apex acuminate; 4–5(–6) pairs of lateral veins that loop upwards and join eventually with the vein above with short veins running out to adjacent teeth, tertiary venation reticulate, subglabrous to sparsely hairy above, sparsely hairy below, more densely so on midrib and veins. Reduced leaves 1–5 mm long, cordate or with the blade barely developed. Inflorescences axillary, subsessile, 1- or 2-flowered; peduncle up to 1 mm long, densely hairy; bracts 1–2 × 1 mm, linear, hairy; pedicels up to 6 mm long, densely hairy. Calyx very pale green to white, campanulate, 10–12 mm long, more or less evenly 5-lobed or with two sets of lobes tightly adpressed at apices appearing almost 3-lobed, initally enclosing the corolla, lobes subulate, c. 5 mm long, densely coarse-hairy externally. Corolla creamy white to pale yellow, 20 mm long, more or less parallel-sided, widening gradually to mouth, lobes spreading not strongly recurved, lobes 3–4 × 3–4 mm, glandular hairy internally at base of lobes, densely eglandular hairy throughout externally. Stamens with filaments 2.5–3 mm long, attached 7–9 mm from base of corolla; anthers c. 1 mm long, cohering at apices before dehiscence; staminodes 1–2 mm long. Gynoecium 12–13 mm long; disc cupular with lobed margin, 1 mm long, glabrous; ovary and style densely eglandular hairy; stigma peltate, slightly bilobed, c. 2 mm across. Fruits ovoid, densely hairy, 6 × 4 mm (immature?), calyx not or partially persistent, base of style persistent.

Distribution. Central Sulawesi (see Figure 14 ).

Habitat and ecology. Upland and montane forest at an altitude of 1333–2355 m.

Etymology. This species is named after Dr M. M. J. van Balgooy of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, the Netherlands (L), who has contributed so much to our knowledge of the flora of Southeast Asia and was the collector of the type specimen.

Proposed IUCN conservation category. The EOO of Cyrtandra balgooyi is 444 km 2 and the AOO is 20 km 2, based on a 2 × 2 km grid cell size, under the B criteria ( Bachman et al., 2011). Most of the collection localities fall within the boundaries of Lore Lindu National Park (UNEP-WCMC & IUCN, 2019), which should provide some protection. They are also at relatively high altitude in the slightly less threatened upland and montane forest types ( Cannon et al., 2007). This species is assessed as Least Concern (LC).

Additional specimens examined. INDONESIA. Central Sulawesi. Sigi: Mt Nokilalaki, track to shelter 2, 24 vii 2018, Ardi WI225 ( KRB) ; Lore Lindu National Park , Tambing lake, 4 viii 2018, Ardi WI 296 ( KRB) ; Summit of Mt Ngilalaki , 9 vii 1939, Bloembergen 3986 (A, BO) ; Mt Nokilalaki , 6 iii 2008, Cicuzza 787 (E) ; ibid., 18 iii 2008, Cicuzza 936 (E) ; Lore Lindu National Park , Uwei Balamba, 21 ii 2011, Culmsee y2077 (BO, E) ; Sopu Valley , c. 80 km from Palu, 29 iv 1979, Hennipman 5110 (A, E, L) .

Cyrtandra balgooyi is one of a group of six species that share the characters of strongly anisophyllous leaves, white or light-yellow corollas, and densely hairy calyces, corollas and fruits. The others in the group are Cyrtandra gambutensis , C. gorontaloensis , C. parvicalyx H.J.Atkins & Karton. and C. widjajae . Cyrtandra balgooyi is currently known only from a small area of Central Sulawesi. The other species in the group from this area is Cyrtandra widjajae , from which this new species can be distinguished most easily by its serrate (as opposed to subentire) leaf margin, smaller number of lateral vein pairs (4 or 5 pairs versus 8–14 pairs) and larger flowers (c. 20 mm long versus 12–15 mm long).

Hennipman 5110 has been placed here tentatively, because it has some leaf pairs with subequal leaves and a slightly less serrate margin than that of the other specimens.

Figures

Figure 12. Cyrtandra balgooyi H.J.Atkins & Karton., sp. nov. a, Stem and side view of flower; b, front view of flower. Photographs: Fabian Brambach. This plant was pressed as Culmsee y2077 (BO, E).

Figure 14. Distribution of Cyrtandra albiflora (black triangle), C. balgooyi (black squares) and C. boliohutensis (red circles).