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. 2017 Dec 15:(91):85-104.
doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.91.21623. eCollection 2017.

Four new species of Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) from the South Pacific islands of Fiji

Melissa A Johnson  1
Affiliations

Four new species of Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) from the South Pacific islands of Fiji

Melissa A Johnson. PhytoKeys. .

Abstract

During fieldwork in Fiji, four new species of Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) were discovered and are described herein: C. gregoryi M.A.Johnson, sp. nov., C. hispida M.A.Johnson, sp. nov., C. longifructosa M.A.Johnson, sp. nov., and C. waisaliensis M.A.Johnson, sp. nov. The addition of four new species brings the current number of Fijian Cyrtandra to 41 endemic species. Two of the four species are known from only a single locality, and all of the new species are likely endangered or critically endangered. Continued fieldwork in the islands of Fiji is warranted in order to better understand current species distributions and population demographics of Cyrtandra in this species-rich and still poorly explored region of the South Pacific.

Keywords: Cyrtandra; Fiji; Gesneriaceae; South Pacific; conservation; islands; new species; taxonomy.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Cyrtandra gregoryi M.A.Johnson A Habit B Inflorescence C Corolla, anterior view D Calyx E Flower, lateral view F Gynoecium. Drawn from Johnson 105 (RSA) and field images.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Cyrtandra gregoryi M.A.Johnson and closest relative (C. ciliata) based on a molecular phylogeny by Johnson et al. (2017). A C. gregoryi shrub habit B C. gregoryi corolla, anterior view C C. gregoryi flower, lateral view D C. gregoryi axillary cyme inflorescence E C. gregoryi adaxial leaf surface F C. ciliata corolla, anterior view G C. ciliata flower, lateral view H C. ciliata cauliflorous cyme inflorescence. All photos taken in the field by M. Johnson.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Distribution of Cyrtandra gregoryi and C. hispida on Taveuni, Fiji.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
A portion of the Maximum Likelihood phylogram from Johnson et al. (2017) based on three nuclear (ITS, ETS, Cyrt1) and two chloroplast (psbA-trnH, rpl32-trnL) loci. Support values shown for each branch are bootstrap and posterior probabilities when ≥ 50% and ≥ 0.50, respectively. An asterisk indicates 100% BS or 1.0 PP; a dash indicates that the branch was not supported.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Cyrtandra hispida M.A.Johnson. A Habit B Inflorescence C Corolla, anterior view D Corolla, longitudinal section E Calyx, longitudinal section and young fruit. Drawn from Johnson 91 (RSA, SUVA), Johnson 212 (SUVA), Johnson 215 (RSA), and field images.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Cyrtandra hispida M.A.Johnson and closest relative (C. cephalophora) based on molecular phylogeny by Johnson et al. (2017). A C. hispida corolla, anterior view B C. hispida flower, lateral view C C. hispida shrub habit and axillary cyme inflorescence D C. cephalophora shrub habit E C. cephalophora capitate-cylindrical cauliflorous inflorescence and young fruits F C. cephalophora corolla, anterior view. All photos taken in the field by M. Johnson, with photos of C. hispida taken from the type collection.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Cyrtandra longifructosa M.A.Johnson. A Habit B Corolla, staminate phase, anterior view C Mature elongate cylindrical fruit D Inflorescence and young fruit E Corolla, ovulate phase, anterior view. Drawn from Johnson 65 (SUVA, RSA), Johnson 59 (RSA), and field images.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Cyrtandra longifructosa M.A.Johnson and closest relative (C. dolichocarpa) based on molecular phylogeny by Johnson et al. (2017). A C. longifructosa corolla, anterior view B C. longifructosa flower, lateral view C C. longifructosa elongate cylindrical fruits D C. longifructosa axillary inflorescence and young fruits E C. longifructosa shrub habit F C. dolichocarpa corolla, anterior view G C. dolichocarpa flower, lateral view H C. dolichocarpa shrub habit. All photos taken in the field by M. Johnson, with photos of C. longifructosa taken from the type collection.
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
Distribution of Cyrtandra waisaliensis and C. longifructosa on Vanua Levu, Fiji.
Figure 10.
Figure 10.
Cyrtandra waisaliensis M.A.Johnson. A Habit B Cauliflorous inflorescence C Corolla, anterior view D Corolla, longitudinal section E Gynoecium F Calyx, longitudinal section and young fruit. Drawn from Johnson 48 (RSA), Johnson 50 (SUVA, RSA), and field images.
Figure 11.
Figure 11.
Cyrtandra waisaliensis M.A.Johnson. A Corolla, anterior view B Flower, lateral view C Cauliflorous cyme inflorescence D Shrub habit E Rainforest understory habitat. All photos from the type collection, taken in the field by M. Johnson.
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