Polyosma helicioides F.Muell.

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

14. Polyosma helicioides F.Muell.

Polyosma helicioides F.Muell. (1885) 8. — Type: G. Belford s.n. (MEL, not located), Papua New Guinea,Central,“On Astrolabe-Range” ( Von Mueller 1885 – protologue), without date. — Neotype (designated here): J. Chalmers s.n. (MEL [ MEL568430 ]), Papua New Guinea, ‘ SE New Guinea (= Central Prov. )’, anno 1885 (see Typification below).

Typification. The type collection (Belford s.n.) cited in the protologue ( Von Mueller 1885) has not been located at MEL. Therefore, the Chalmers s.n. collection has been selected as the neotype because Mueller regarded this material as belonging to this species and the label and notes are in Mueller’s hand (pers. comm. by H. Barnes, 10 Nov. 2022) .

Tree, 6–10 m tall, bole to 8 m, c. 10 cm diam. Branchlets glabrous to slightly hairy, brown, pustules. Leaves sparsely hairy; petiole 0.5–2 cm long; lamina elliptic, 5–22 by 2–7 cm, coriaceous, drying both surfaces brown; base acute, margin serrate, apex attenuate; secondary veins 11–25 on each side and at an angle greater than 45° from midrib, regularly looping near margin onto the next secondary vein; tertiary veins weakly percurrent, sparsely hairy, prominent on abaxial surface. Inflorescence racemose, axillary,> 30-flowered; rachis 6–19 cm long, sparsely hairy, with flowers loosely and evenly arranged; pedicels 6–9 mm long; bracteoles 1–5 mm long, sparsely hairy. Calyx lobes 1–3 mm long. Corolla buds tubular, (5–) 8–10 mm long, white, often with greenish tinge; corolla densely hairy, remaining tubular at anthesis, except opening with 4 small lobes distally. Fruits ovoid, 5–15 by 3–8 mm, glabrous, green to bluish purple, drying brownish black.

Distribution — Indonesia (Papua Barat) and Papua New Guinea (Morobe, Western Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Southern Highlands, Western, Central, Northern, Milne Bay, New Britain).

Habitat & Ecology — Occurring from lowland to high montane mossy forest from elevations of 20–2 500 m.

Conservation status — This widespread species is not regarded as endangered.

Additional specimens examined. INDONESIA, Papua Barat, Vogelkop, So- rong, Roefei River, P.van Royen 3147 (L). – PAPUA NEW GUINEA, West Sepik, S of Nerenavip village, D. Frodin NGF 32186 (L); Morobe, Wagau, O.K. Paul, B.J. Conn & T.K. Kuria LAE 87519 ( LAE, NSW ); M.J. Lovave 36 (L, LAE ); Sattelberg, M.S. Clemens 5085 (L); Finschhafen, P. Katik & J.R. Croft LAE 70757 (L, LAE ); Mt Jasop, above Musum, K. Damas & P. Katik LAE 74639 (L); K. Damas LAE 74636 ( LAE ); Oomsis, E.E. Henty NGF 14302 (L, LAE ); P. van Royen NGF 16329 (K, L, LAE ); Lake Trist, E.E. Henty NGF 29104 (K, L, LAE ); Western Highlands, Wabag, J.R. Flenley ANU 2602 (K, L, LAE ); Eastern Highlands: near Lake Aunde, Mt Wilhelm, R. Hoogland 5675 & R. Pullen (L); c. 0.5 miles S of Tomba, J.C. Saunders 665 (L); Daulo, J.C. Saunders 888, 889, 903 (L, LAE ); Mt Gahavesuka Park, K. Kerenga & N. Cruttwell LAE 56695 & LAE 56696 (L, LAE ); Marafunga, J.S. Womersley NGF 24567 (K, LAE,NSW ); Southern Highlands,Mt Bosavi, M.Jacobs 8752 (L, LAE ); Western, Oriomo River, J. White & E. Gray NGF 10402 ( LAE ); Central, Aloga, C.E. Carr 13621 (L); Alolo, C.E. Carr 14171 (L); Mt Kuriva, P. Katik 605 ( LAE ); Sirinumu, R. Pullen 2867 ( LAE ); Northern, Siurane, R. Pullen 5465 ( LAE ); Milne Bay,Goodenough Islands, L.J. Brass 25109 (K, L, LAE ); New Britain, Lackit, P. Katik & C. Ridsdale NGF 38049 (K, L, LAE ); Whiteman Range, O.K. Paul SAJ 201 (BISH, NSW).

Note — Mueller compared this species with P. ilicifolia (handwritten notes in upper right corner of neotype). Although the handwriting is faint and almost indecipherable, it appears to read: “Diff[ers] fr[om] P. ilicif [olia], but only in short leaf stalks (= petiole) and more abundant fl[owers] fruit unknown. [Otherwise,] It agrees with Java specimens.” Although differences in petiole length and flower abundance may not consistently distinguish these two species, P. helicioides has sparsely hairy leaves, whereas those of P. ilicifolia are glabrous.