Ha`iwale (gulch cyrtandra)

Cyrtandra filipes, a member of the Gesneriaceae (African violet) family, is a shrub about 1 m (3.3 ft) tall, with stems apparently few-branched. The leaves are in whorls of 3 to 4 per node, rarely opposite, closely spaced, and born on the upper 3 to 7 nodes. The leaves are asymmetrical, thin and soft, oblanceolate (inversely lance-shaped, with the broadest point above the middle and tapering to the base) to elliptic (widest at the midpoint, with rounded ends), 10 to 21 cm (4 to 8 in) long, 2.5 to 6 cm (1 to 2.4 in) wide; the upper surface is very sparsely strigose (straight, appressed, sometimes bulbous-based hairs, all pointing in more or less the same direction) or nearly without hairs and the lower surface very sparsely bearing hairs or without hairs. The flowers are solitary, or rarely two, in cymes (inflorescences characterized by having the terminal flower bloom first), arising in the leaf axils (the point between the stem and a leaf petiole or a branch). The calyx (a collective term for all of the sepals of a flower) is zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical), pale green, and 7 to 12 mm (0.3 to 0.5 in) long. The corolla (all of the petals of a flower, collectively) is white, curved near the middle, 12 to 16 mm (0.5 to 0.6 in) long, and 4 mm (0.2 in) in diameter. The berries are white, narrowly ellipsoid, and 1.8 to 2.5 mm (0.7 to 1.0 in) long.

The species historical range included Hawaii. See below for information about where the species is known or believed to occur.

Habitat Requirements

Cyrtandra filipes occurs on east Molokai and west Maui in the wet gulches and mesic valley bottoms near streams between the elevations of 220 to 370 m (3,599 to 3,760 ft). The habitat of C. filipes at Olowalu Valley on west Maui is described as a mixed native and nonnative mesic forest. Associated native plant species includes Nestegis sandwicensis (olopua), Diospyros sandwicensis (lama), and Psydrax odorata (alahee). The habitat occupied by C. filipes at Mapulehu Valley on Molokai is described as a lowland nonnative mixed with native forest at approximately 221 m (725 ft) elevation. The single plant was observed along a steep cliff face. The associated native plant species include the ferns Adiantum spp. and Selaginella spp. At Mapulehu Valley on Molokai, at 732 to 914 m (2,400 to 3,000 ft), the summit ridge habitat for Cyrtandra filipes is described as a Metrosideros sp. montane wet forest. The associated native plant species include Cibotium glaucum (hapuu) understory with Cyrtandra spp. (haiwale) and Antidesma spp (hame).

Food Habits

Movement / Home Range

Historically, Cyrtandra filipes was documented at Mapulehu, Wailau, and Kaluaaha Valleys on Molokai and at Honokowai Gulch, Kaanapali Gulch, Kauaula Valley, Kahakuloa Valley, and Olowalu Valley on west Maui. Currently, Cyrtandra filipes is located at Kapaloa Stream (part of Honokowai Gulch), Honokowai Gulch, Honolua Valley, and Waihee Valley on west Maui. On Molokai, there are many individuals of Cyrtandra at Mapulehu; however, it is difficult to determine if these plants are pure individuals of C. filipes or hybrids.

Reproductive Strategy

Cyrtandra filipes has been observed flowering between January to April and in the months of August, October, and December. It was observed fruiting between December to February and in the months of August and October. In general, the mating system for Hawaiian species of Cyrtandra is classified as self-compatible, but also requires a pollinator to set fruit. In general, the flowers are protandrous, which means the anthers (male flower parts) are produced before the pistils (female parts). This condition commonly prevents self-pollination within the same flower and implies that Hawaiian Cyrtandra is dependent on one or more pollinators. They appear to be obligate outcrossers (i.e., is not readily self-fertile) as there is strong evidence of interspecific hybridization in the Hawaiian flora. The pollinator of Hawaiian Cyrtandra is likely nocturnal moths. Seed dispersal mechanisms for Cyrtandra filipes are unknown. However, we assume that seeds of C. filipes are dispersed by birds through ingestion.

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