Polyosma subalpina Schulze-Menz ex P.Royen

Paul, O. K., Conn, B. J. & Henwood, M. J., 2024, Taxonomic review of Polyosma (Escalloniaceae) in Papuasia, Blumea 69, pp. 54-88 : 85-86

31. Polyosma subalpina Schulze-Menz ex P.Royen

Polyosma subalpina Schulze-Menz ex P. Royen (1983) 2520,f. 735. — Type: L.J. Brass 29839 (holo L [L 0035118];iso LAE [ LAE 34128], US [ US 288786]), Papua New Guinea, Eastern Highlands, Mt Wilhelm, 12 June 1959.

Small tree, 2–5 m tall. Branchlets glabrous (once recorded as hairy, see notes below), pustules brownish grey, scattered. Leaves glabrous; petiole 0.5–2 cm long; lamina obovate, 1.5– 5.5 by 1–3 cm, coriaceous, drying both surfaces light brown; base acute, margin serrate, apex mucronate; secondary veins 9–15 on each side and an angle greater than 45° from midrib, regularly looping near margin onto the next secondary vein; tertiary veins weakly percurrent, glabrous, not prominent but visible on abaxial surface. Inflorescence racemose, terminal, <20-flowered; rachis 1.5–9.5 cm long, hairy; flowers loosely and evenly arranged towards distal end of rachis; pedicels (1–) 2–6 mm long, narrow; bracteoles 1–3 mm long, hairy. Calyx lobes 1–5 mm long. Corolla buds tubular, 10–20 mm long, greenish brown or purple; corolla moderately hairy, remaining tubular at anthesis, except opening with 4 small lobes distally. Fruits ovoid, 6–12 by 3–7 mm, hairy, green turning purple.

Distribution — Papua New Guinea (West Sepik, Morobe, Western Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Southern Highlands, Central).

Habitat & Ecology — Occurring in alpine and subalpine shrubbery vegetation between elevations of 2 500–3 500 m.

Conservation status — This species is regarded as not endangered.

Additional specimens examined. PAPUA NEW GUINEA, West Sepik, Star Mountains, 3 200 m, J.R. Croft LAE 65946 (K, L, LAE ); Morobe, Mt Sarawaget, T.G. Hartley 11291 ( LAE ); Mount Amungwiwa, J.S. Womersley NGF 17951 & NGF 17987 (L, LAE ); Western Highlands, Mt Hagen, A. Vinas & J.­F. Veldkamp LAE 59821 (L, LAE ); Mt Giluwe, J.R. Croft et al. LAE 60917 & LAE 60937 (L, LAE ); Mt Oibo, W.N. Takeuchi 10555 (K, L, LAE ); Eastern Highlands,Mt Wilhelm, M.M. J. van Balgooy 258, 478, 753 & 837 (K, L, LAE ); E. Borgmann 51 (B, L); L.J. Brass 30066 (K, L, LAE ); B. Ernst 51 & 184 (K, LAE ); A. Kairo & H. Streimann NGF 35753 (K, L, LAE ); D.W. McLean & L.K. Wade ANU 7148 (K, L, LAE ); W.R. Philipson 3454 & M.N. Philipson (L); G. Robbins 717 (K, L, LAE ); P. van Royen NGF 16011 (K, L, LAE ); J. Smith ANU 15020 (K, LAE ); H.Stauffer 5629 (K, L, LAE ); J. Vandenberg NGF 35040 (K, L, LAE ); K. Wade ANU 7351 (K, LAE ); D. Walker ANU 5096 (K, L, LAE ); J.S. Womersley NGF 8864A (K, LAE );Mt Otto, L.J.Brass 31020 & J.D.Collins (K, L, LAE ); J.­F. Veldkamp 8614 & S. Obedi (K, L, LAE ); Mt Keringomna, P.F. Stevens & P.J. Grubb LAE 54613 (K, L, LAE ); Southern Highlands, Mt Giluwe, M. Coode NGF 32508 (K, LAE );Mt Kum, J.S. Womersley NGF 6461 (K, LAE ); Mt Ambua, D. Frodin NGF 28245 (K, L, LAE ); W. Vink 17459 (L, LAE ); W. Vink 17485 (L, LAE ); Central, Mt Strong, P.F. Stevens & M. Coode LAE 51368 (K, L, LAE ); Mt Albert Edward, D.B. Foreman & P. Wardle NGF 45537 (K, L, LAE ); J.R. Croft & A. Vinas LAE 61435 (K, L, LAE ); Mt Victoria, J.R. Croft LAE 61714 (K, L, LAE ); Mt Yule, J.­F. Veldkamp 8518 & M. Kuduk (K, L, LAE,NSW ), S.A. James 1280 (NSW); Northern, Oro Province,Kokoda, J.R. Croft et al. LAE 65051 (K, L, LAE ).

Note — One collection from Mount Yule, W of Telikom repeater station (S.A. James 1280 [NSW934170]) has leaves that are hairy rather than glabrous, with the latter appearing to be the normal condition.