Conandron

Full name and orig. publication: Conandron Sieb. & Zucc., Abh. Math.-Phys. Cl. Königl. Bayer. Akad. Wiss. 3: 729, t. 5 (1843).

Etymology: From the Greek κωνος, kōnos = cone, and άνδρών, andrōn = part of the antique house in which men acted in seclusion from the women. The anthers form a distinct cone in that the margins are fused and have an elongated apical appendage.

Synonyms: -

Infrafamilial position: Didymocarpoideae-Trichosporeae-Didymocarpinae (Weber et al. 2013).

Description: Perennial (sub)acaulescent herbs. Leaves few, in a basal rosette, (sub)glabrous, lamina elliptical with cuneate, truncate or cordate base. Cymes axillary, few- to many-flowered, lax. Sepals free nearly to base, equal. Corolla actinomorphic, glabrous, tube c. half as long as limb, limb 5-lobed, lobes equal, acute or obtuse. Stamens 5, inserted near corolla base, exserted; anthers dorsifixed, connate into a tube surrounding the style; thecae parallel, apically not confluent, longicidally dehiscent; connectives with long apical projections. Nectary lacking. Ovary ovoid, with parietal placentae; stigma globose, undivided. Capsule straight, narrowly ovoid, c. 2,5 x longer than calyx, loculicidally dehiscent.

Chromosome number: 2n = 32.

Species number: 1.

Type and only species: Conandron ramondioides Sieb. & Zucc.

Species names (incl. publication and synonyms): See Skog, L.E. & J.K. Boggan. 2005: World checklist of Gesneriaceae: http://persoon.si.edu/Gesneriaceae/Checklist/.

Distribution: S Japan, E China (N Fujian, Zhejiang, NE Jiangxi, S Anhui), Taiwan.

Ecology: Humid and wet rocks in forests, 500-1300 m.

Notes:
(1) The genus is notable for the actinomorphic flowers and anthers with apical appendages. The stamens form a central cone. The flowers are clearly buzz-pollinated.
(2) Three species have been described, but apparently represent a single, somewhat variable species.
(3) Kokubugata & Peng (2004) recognise two varieties in China and Japan.
(4) Because of the actinomorphic flowers, Conandron, serves a a model organism for genetic studies on floral symmetry (e.g. Hsin & Wang 2018).

Selected references: Wang et al. in Wu & Raven, Fl. China 18: 250 (1998); Kokubugata & Peng, Edinburgh J. Bot. 61(1): 21–30 (2004); varieties; Hsin & Wang, Bot. Studies 59: art. 24 (2018), genet.

Tax. details, cytology, and bibliography: Gesneriaceae Resource Centre (GRC). Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

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