Cyrtandra kegesuglensis (Gesneriaceae), a new species from Mount Wilhelm, Papua New Guinea’s highest mountain

Abstract A recent expedition to Mount Wilhelm in Papua New Guinea enabled careful examination of Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) native to the region. Pieter van Royen’s account of Gesneriaceae from alpine New Guinea treated Cyrtandra wilhelmensis as a single species, despite it actually comprising two morphologically distinct floral entities. Here, we newly describe the white-flowered entity as Cyrtandra kegesuglensis , named in recognition of the village of Kegesugl and its people, who have long facilitated and supported plant collection in this area. Preliminary conservation assessments based on IUCN Red List criteria support the classification of this species as Near Threatened (NT). Additionally, a key is provided for species of Cyrtandra from Mount Wilhelm (above 2,600 m).