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lava cyrtandra
Scientific Name: Cyrtandra confertiflora
Family: Gesneriaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Shrub
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Cyrtandra: A Diverse Genus of Flowering Plants
Cyrtandra is a large genus of flowering plants, encompassing approximately 600 species.
Considerations for Pets
- Cyrtandra species can be shrubs.
Considerations for Children
- Cyrtandra species can be shrubs.
Common Names
- Lava Cyrtandra (primarily associated with Cyrtandra confertiflora and Cyrtandra heinrichii)
- Ha'iwale (associated with Cyrtandra kaulantha, Cyrtandra lysiosepala, and Cyrtandra nanawaleensis)
- Molokai Cyrtandra (associated with Cyrtandra biserrata)
- Ilihia (associated with Cyrtandra platyphylla)
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Genus: Cyrtandra
- Family: Gesneriaceae (African Violet family)
- Examples of Species and Subspecies:
- Cyrtandra confertiflora G. Forst.
- Cyrtandra confertiflora (Wawra) C.B. Clarke
- Cyrtandra confertiflora var. confertiflora
- Cyrtandra confertiflora subsp. obovata
- Cyrtandra heinrichii H. St. John
- Cyrtandra nanawaleensis
- Cyrtandra platyphylla A. Gray
- Cyrtandra kaulantha
- Cyrtandra lysiosepala
- Cyrtandra paludosa
- Synonyms:
- = Cyrtandra confertiflora (Wawra) C.B. Clarke var. confertiflora
Distribution and Habitat
- Primarily found in the Pacific region, including:
- Hawaiian Islands (Main Hawaiian Islands)
- Northern Polynesia
- Vanuatu (les Banks-Vanoua-Lava)
- Specific locations mentioned:
- Puna District, Hawaii (Nanawale Forest Preserve, near Lava Tree State Monument)
- Thurston Lava Tube area (Big Island, Hawaii)
- Kahana Valley
- Lava flows of Wailea
- Bare lava flows and open areas on the island of Hawaii
- Kona (South and North Kona)
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Habit: Typically a shrub or small tree
- Duration: Perennial (evergreen, keeping leaves year-round)
- Color: Some species exhibit orangeyellow coloring in spring.
Ecology
- Often found in areas with lava flows, including bare or sparsely vegetated lava fields, lava rock beaches, and collapsed lava tubes.
- Specific habitats include:
- Areas protected from wind, below ground level (in craters, lava flow trenches, etc.)
- Clay loam in boulder gullies of collapsed lava tubes
- High lava and ash areas
- Montane forests
- Anchialine pools
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Interacts with Nesosydne acuta (an insect) in relation to Cyrtandra platyphylla.
Further Information
- Discover Life: Provides information on the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Cyrtandra heinrichii.