Cyrtandra (Neo-Latin, from Greek , kyrtós, "curved", and , anḗr, "male", in reference to their prominently curved stamens) is a genus of flowering plants containing about 600 species, with more being discovered often, and is thus the largest genus in the family Gesneriaceae. These plants are native to Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands, with the centre of diversity in Southeast Asia and the Malesian region. The genus is common, but many species within it are very rare, localized, and endangered endemic plants. The species can be difficult to identify because they are highly polymorphic and because they readily hybridize with each other. The plants may be small herbs, vines, shrubs, epiphytes, or trees. The genus is characterized in part by having two stamens, and most species have white flowers, with a few red-, orange-, yellow-, and pink-flowered species known. Almost all species live in rainforest habitats.
It is an example of a supertramp genus.
Hawaiian Cyrtandra are known as ha‘iwale.
Species
Selected species include: Cyrtandra aurantiicarpa Cyrtandra biserrata – Molokai cyrtandra Cyrtandra calyptribracteata Cyrtandra cleopatrae Cyrtandra confertiflora – lava cyrtandra Cyrtandra cordifolia – the Latin name means cyrtandra with heart-shaped leaves Cyrtandra crenata – Kahana Valley cyrtandra Cyrtandra cyaneoides – mapele Cyrtandra dentata – mountain cyrtandra Cyrtandra elatostemoides Cyrtandra elegans Cyrtandra ferripilosa – red-hair cyrtandra Cyrtandra filipes – gulch cyrtandra Cyrtandra garnotiana – hahala Cyrtandra giffardii – forest cyrtandra Cyrtandra gracilis – Palolo Valley cyrtandra Cyrtandra grandiflora – largeflower cyrtandra Cyrtandra grayana – Pacific cyrtandra Cyrtandra grayi – Gray's cyrtandra Cyrtandra halawensis – toothleaf cyrtandra Cyrtandra hashimotoi – Maui cyrtandra Cyrtandra hawaiensis – Hawaii cyrtandra Cyrtandra heinrichii – lava cyrtandra Cyrtandra hematos – singleflower cyrtandra Cyrtandra hirtigera Cyrtandra hypochrysoides Cyrtandra kalihii – Koolau Range cyrtandra Cyrtandra kamooloaensis – Kamo'oloa cyrtandra Cyrtandra kauaiensis – ulunahele Cyrtandra kealiae Cyrtandra kealiae ssp. kealiae (syn. C. limahuliensis) Cyrtandra kealiae ssp. urceolata Cyrtandra kohalae – Kohala Mountain cyrtandra Cyrtandra laxiflora – Oahu cyrtandra Cyrtandra lessoniana – Lesson's cyrtandra Cyrtandra macraei – upland cyrtandra Cyrtandra menziesii – ha'i wale Cyrtandra munroi – Lanaihale cyrtandra Cyrtandra nitens Cyrtandra oenobarba – shaggystem cyrtandra Cyrtandra olona – Kauai cyrtandra Cyrtandra oxybapha – Pohakea Gulch cyrtandra Cyrtandra paliku – cliffside cyrtandra Cyrtandra paludosa – kanaweo ke'oke'o Cyrtandra platyphylla – 'ilihia Cyrtandra polyantha – Niu Valley cyrtandra Cyrtandra pruinosa – frosted cyrtandra Cyrtandra pulgarensis Cyrtandra samoensis Cyrtandra sessilis – windyridge cyrtandra Cyrtandra subumbellata – parasol cyrtandra Cyrtandra tahuatensis Cyrtandra tintinnabula – Laupahoehoe cyrtandra Cyrtandra umbellifera Cyrtandra viridiflora – greenleaf cyrtandra Cyrtandra waiolani – fuzzyflower cyrtandra Cyrtandra wawrae – rockface cyrtandra