Polyosma induta Reeder

Paul, O. K., Conn, B. J. & Henwood, M. J., 2024, Taxonomic review of Polyosma (Escalloniaceae) in Papuasia, Blumea 69, pp. 54-88 : 73-74

15. Polyosma induta Reeder

Polyosma induta Reeder (1946) 284, 285. — Type: L.J. Brass 11482 (holo A [ A42994 ] (see Typification below); iso BM [ BM600392 ], BO, BRI [ BRI-AQ342401 ],L [ L 0035089 ]), Indonesia Papua, Snow Mountains, Bele River , 18 km NE of Lake Habbema , Nov. 1938.

Polyosma vochysioides Reeder (1946) 285. — Type: L.J. Brass 12090 (holo A [ A42999 ] (see Typification below); iso BO, BRI [ BRI-AQ342413 ], L [ L 0035120 ]), Indonesia Papua, Snow Mountains, Bernhard Camp , Idenburg River , Jan. 1939.

Typification. Reeder (1946:275) states that “In the absence of parentheti- cal letters indicating the place of deposit [of specimens],cited specimens are to be found only at the Arnold Arboretum [A].” Since Reeder cited the type of P. induta as “ Brass 118483 (TYPE)” and that of P. vochysioides as “ Brass 12090 (TYPE)” (protologue, pages 284 & 285, respectively), by inference, held at A, we accept that these specimens are the intended holotypes of these taxa as now understood. Based on this assumption, lectotypification is here regarded as unnecessary.

Small tree, c. 3 m tall. Branchlets densely hairy, brown, smooth. Leaves densely pilose; petiole 2–3.5 cm long, brown; lamina broadly elliptic, 11–18 by 4–7 cm, coriaceous, dried materials brown on both surfaces; base acute, margin serrate, apex attenuate; secondary veins 14–27 on each side and at an angle greater than 45° from midrib, regularly looping near margin onto the next secondary vein; tertiary vein weakly percurrent, hairy, prominent on abaxial surface. Inflorescence racemose, terminal,<20-flowered; rachis 13–14 cm long, densely hairy; pedicels 3–4 mm long; bracteoles 1–2 mm long, densely hairy. Calyx lobes c. 2 mm long. Corolla buds tubular, 10–15 mm long, yellow or greenish white; corolla densely hairy, remaining tubular at anthesis, except opening with 4 small lobes distally. Fruits ovoid, c. 15 by 7 mm, densely hairy, pilose, light green.

Distribution — Indonesia ( Indonesia Papua: Snow Mountains) and Papua New Guinea (West Sepik, East Sepik, Morobe, Southern Highlands, Western, Central, Milne Bay, New Britain).

Habitat & Ecology — Occurring in Castanopsis­ dominated forest at elevations of about 1 300 m.

Conservation status — This inadequately known species is widespread and is not regarded as threatened.

Additional specimens examined. INDONESIA, Papua, Snow Mountains, Eipomek-Tol, P. Hiepko 1398 & W. Schultze­Motel (L); Bele River 18 km NE of Lake Habbema, L.J. Brass 11483 (BRI, L, LAE ); 15 km SW of Bernhard Camp, Idenburg River, L.J. Brass 12090 (BRI, LAE ). – PAPUA NEW GUINEA, West Sepik, Bulindup, W of Oksapmin, E.E. Henty, R. Isgar & M. Galore & NGF 41627 (L); Telefomin, E.E. Henty, R. Isgar & M. Galore NGF 41690 (L, LAE ); K. Kerenga LAE 73993 (L, LAE ); East Sepik, Hunstein Range, W. Takeuchi 6296 (L, LAE ); Morobe, Manki Trig, Bulolo, A. Kairo 778 (L, LAE ); Southern Highlands, Mt Ambua, Tari, W. Vink 16833 (L, LAE ); Tari, J.S. Womersley NGF 39926 (K); Onim Hill, Mt Giluwe, J.R. Croft LAE 60903 (L, LAE ); Western, Muller Range, W. Takeuchi 24626 & 24628, D. Ama & B. Gamui (L, LAE ); Oriomo River, J.J. Havel NGF 17241 (L, LAE ); Central, Kuriwa, A. Vinas UPNG 3237 ( LAE ); Milne Bay, Misima, T.B. Croat 52922 ( LAE );Mt Gerebu, S.A. James 1341 ( LAE ); New Britain,Gasmata, J.R. Croft NGF 15543 ( LAE ).

Notes — 1. The taxonomic status of this species is very inadequately known, but it is regarded as morphologically most similar to P. forbesii . Polyosma induta is a small tree (c. 3 m tall), compared to P. forbesii which is a large tree 10–20 m tall. It also differs from P. forbesii by having a terminal inflorescence (vs axillary in P. forbesii ).

2. Reeder (1946: 284) proposed that this species and P. vochysioides were “very similar in foliage but differ markedly in characters pertaining to the inflorescence were distinct”. The inflorescence of P. induta is terminal, whereas Reeder records the inflorescence of P. vochysioides as terminal or axillary. Reeder suggests that the latter taxon is more floriferous than P. induta but this difference is not supported. The additional collections now available for study support P. vochysioides being regarded as a synonym of P. induta .