Cyrtandra attenuata Elmer

• Authority

  Gillett, George W. 1967. The genus Cyrtandra in Fiji. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 37: 107-159.

• Family

  Gesneriaceae

• Scientific Name

  Cyrtandra attenuata Elmer

• Type

  Type in the herbarium of the Bernice P. Bishop Museum, collected near Uluingala, Natewa Peninsula, Province of Thakaundrove, Vanua Levu, Fiji, alt. 600-820 m., June 15, 1934, by A. C. Smith (2006). Duplicates at GH, NY, UC, US.

• Description

  Latin Diagnosis - Frutex 1-4 m. altus, pilis septatis ad 20µ diametro et 0.5 mm. longis indutus maturitate glaber; folia opposita, petiolis 1-3 cm. longis, laminis lanceolatis vel ovatis ad 15 cm. longis et 7 cm. latis, basi inaequilateraliter acutis vel cuneatis, apice acutis vel acuminatis, dentatis vel undulatis; inflorescentiae cymosae subpatentes 2-8 florae, pedunculis 1-6 cm. longis indumento adscendente obtectis, bracteis terminalibus binis linearibus 2-3 mm. longis caducis, pedicellis 1 vel 2 bracteolatis ad 6 cm. longis; calyx caducus albus vel viridialbns membranaceus manifeste venosus ad 2 cm. longus basi inflatus in lobis deltoideis vel lanceolatis attenuates aequalibus 0.33-0.5 fissus utrinque glaber vel glabra tus; corolla alba chartacea ad 4 cm. longa in lobis paullo inaequalibus 0.25 fissa extus glabra intus capitato-glanduloso-pilosa; stamina ca. 5 mm. infra sinus corollae lobi inferioris enata, filamentis 4-5 cm. longis, antheris in corollae faucibus in apice adhaerentibus; staminodia 3 infra sinus superiores 4-5 mm. disposita 1.5-2 mm. longa, staminodio medio paullo supra staminodia lateralia; discus annularicupuliformis prominens sub anthesi ca. 1 mm. altus; gynoecium ca. 1.5 cm. longum, ovario glabro superne gradatim attenuato, stylo inferne glabro superne capitato-glanduloso-piloso, stigmate applanato bilobato 1-2 mm. infra antheras; fructus maturi desiderati.

• Discussion

  The distinctive features of this species include the relatively large flowers with inflated calyces and the chartaceous corollas with glabrous outer surfaces. Material of the Samoan Cyrtandra divertae Christopherson ears a strong similarity to C. attenuata. A specimen with remarkably similar flowers and inflorescences was collected in Tahiti (St. John & Fosberg 14158 (BISH)). Finally, the new species is remarkably similar to C. nukuhivensis F. Brown, of the Marquesas Islands, the inflorescences and flowers being generally comparable in form and indument. These comparisons seem to indicate clearly that the lineage of the new species extends into western and eastern Polynesia.