Cyrtandra revoluta Fosberg & Sachet, Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 47: 31. 1981.

Wagner, Warren L., Wagner, Anthony J. & Lorence, David H., 2013, Revision of Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) in the Marquesas Islands, PhytoKeys 30, pp. 33-64 : 53

10. Cyrtandra revoluta Fosberg & Sachet, Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 47: 31. 1981.

Type.

Marquesas Islands: Fatu Hiva: Base of Mt. Natahu, on cliff face, 828 m, 1-3 August 1977, B. H. Gagné (S. L. Montgomery coll.) 1276 (holotype: BISH-510504!; isotype: US!).

Description.

Shrub ca. 0.2-0.3 m, with thick fleshy stems, densely woolly pubescent. Leaves opposite, very crowded on upper 2-3 nodes, stiff-coriaceous, elliptic, 7-10 × 3-5 cm, margins strongly revolute, apex obtuse, bases attenuate to cuneate, upper surface thinly long pilose, glabrate, lower surface densely ferruginous pubescent, petioles 0.5-1 cm. Flowers in condensed cymes, 2-2.5 cm, crowded between the leaves, bracts elliptic, ca. 10-15 mm long, peduncles 5-8 mm, ca. 1-2 mm in diameter, pedicels 6-13 mm; calyx ca. 13-15 mm long, divided ca. 3/4 its length; corolla white (none available on specimen). Berry unknown.

Distribution.

In the Marquesas known only from the type collections on Fatu Hiva at 830 m.

Ecology.

The type was collected on a cliff face, but the specific ecology of Cyrtandra revoluta is unknown.

Conservation status.

IUCN Red List Category: Critically Endangered CR B2a + 2b (i, ii, iii). B1, total extent of occurrence less than 100 km2 (ca. 85 km2), a,b, known from a single location; B2a, estimated area of occupancy estimated to be less than 10 km2 [one collection known]; B2b (i-iii), habitat continuing decline inferred. The estimated area of occupancy for Cyrtandra revoluta on Fatu Hiva (less than 10 km2) is indicated as an endangered environment, threatened by human activity (deforestation and fire), feral animals, and invasive plant species, reducing the extent of the forest ( Florence and Lorence 1997; Mueller-Dombois and Fosberg 1998; Meyer and Salvat 2009).

Discussion.

Cyrtandra revoluta is quite distinctive in its short stature and its stiff-coriaceous, revolute leaves. It is known from only one incomplete specimen making assessment of its relationships difficult. The deeply divided, green calyx suggests that it is part of the divided calyx group.