Gyrocaryum

Gyrocaryum is a genus of plant in family Boraginaceae.^[2] It contains a single species, Gyrocaryum oppositifolium, which is endemic to Spain. The genus and species were described by Spanish botanist Benito Valdés in 1983. It was considered to be extinct in Andalucía until a population was found in 2025.

Gyrocaryum
Flowers and fruits of Gyrocaryum oppositifolium
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Boraginales
Family:	Boraginaceae
Genus:	Gyrocaryum Valdés
Species:	G. oppositifolium
Binomial name
Gyrocaryum oppositifolium Valdés

Taxonomy

Gyrocaryum is a genus of plant in family Boraginaceae which contains one species, G. oppositifolium that is endemic to Spain. The genus and species were described in 1983 by Spanish botanist Benito Valdés in the journal Willdenowia.^[3][4] The genus name comprises two latinized Greek words, "gyros" for ring and "caryos" for nut, and was chosen to highlight its distinguishing characteristic, namely the presence of a cartilaginous ring on the fruit.^[4] The holotype specimen was collected in Seville in 1982 by Valdés and colleagues, and is housed at herbarium at the University of Seville (herbarium SEV) (SEV 80501).^[4]

Since its description, it was thought to be extinct in Andalucía, but a population was found in Sierra Morena National Park in southern Spain in 2025.^[5][6]

Distribution

Its natural habitats are Mediterranean Matorral shrubland, and temperate bunchgrass-grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss.^[1]