Polyosma forbesii Valeton ex Lauterb.

Paul, O. K., Conn, B. J. & Henwood, M. J., 2024, Taxonomic review of Polyosma (Escalloniaceae) in Papuasia, Blumea 69, pp. 54-88 : 70-71

10. Polyosma forbesii Valeton ex Lauterb.

Polyosma forbesii Valeton ex Lauterb.(1912) 821. — Lectotype (designated here): H.O. Forbes 700 (lecto BM [BM611313]; isolecto BO [BO1887896], LAE [ LAE 87220], MEL [MEL578183], P [P423765]), Papua New Guinea, Central, Southeast New Guinea, Sogeri, anno 1885.

Tree, 10–20 m tall. Branchlets densely hairy, brown, smooth. Leaves densely hairy; petiole 0.5–3.5 cm long, brown; lamina broadly elliptic, (3–)10–24 by (2–) 5–9.5 cm, coriaceous, drying brown on both surfaces; base acute, margin serrate, apex attenuate; secondary veins 10–27 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, pubescent, prominent on abaxial surface. Inflorescence racemose, usually axillary, or possibly terminal, 20–30-flowered; rachis 5–12 cm long, densely hairy; pedicels 5–10 mm long; bracteoles 5–10 mm long, densely hairy. Calyx lobes 1–7 mm long, hairy. Corolla buds tubular, (5–) 11–35 mm long, yellowish green to greenish white; corolla densely hairy, remaining tubular at anthesis, except opening with 4 small lobes distally. Fruits ovoid, 5–15 by 3–7 mm, sparsely hairy, purplish black.

Distribution — Indonesia (Vogelkop), Papua New Guinea (West Sepik, East Sepik, Morobe, Western Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Southern Highlands, Western, Central, Milne Bay, New Britain).

Habitat & Ecology — Occurring in lowland to mossy forest from elevations of 20–3 000 m.

Conservation status — Not of concern.

Additional specimens examined. INDONESIA, Papua Barat,Vogelkop,Ewai, C. Versteegh BW 7437 (L). – PAPUA NEW GUINEA, West Sepik, near Folongonom, W.R. Barker et al. LAE 67506 (L, LAE ); Telefomin, E.E. Henty NGF 20858 (K, L, LAE ); Morobe, Pindu, B.B. Bau LAE 84262 (L, LAE ); Kabum, K.M. Fazang, R. Jansen & S.B. Sennart LAE 78748 ( LAE ); Gumi Logging Area, M. Heads 456 ( LAE );Bulolo, J.J. Havel & A. Kairo NGF 9125 (K, LAE ); Wau, G.H. Thomas 11535 (K, LAE ); Kuali Creek, c. 5 miles S of Wau, T.G. Hartley 11535 (L, LAE ); Western Highlands, Mt Hagen, J.R. Croft & O. Akakavara LAE 68137 (L, LAE ); Eastern Highlands, Okapa, T.G. Hartley 12145 (K, LAE ); Kainantu, H. West NGF 5654 ( LAE ); P. Katik LAE 74940 ( LAE ); Crater Mountain, W. Takeuchi 11841 & 11249 (L, LAE ); Southern Highlands, Mt Bosavi, Tari, M. Jacobs 9054 ( LAE ); P. Katik LAE 77989 ( LAE ); Western, Morehead, R. Pullen 7233 (L, LAE ); Makapa, P. Oliver LAE 87618 ( LAE ); Bensbach, M. Galore & C.E. Ridsdale NGF 33739 (K, LAE ); Oriomo River, K.J. White & E. Gray NGF 10402 (K, L, LAE ); Central, Koitaki, C.E. Carr 12644, 12780 (L, NY); Sogeri, H.O. Forbes 315 (L); G.H. Thomas 10725 (K, LAE ); Milne Bay, Mt Suckling, P.F. Stevens & J.­F. Veldkamp LAE 54111 (L, LAE ); New Britain,Whiteman Range, S.A. James 133 ( LAE, NSW );Gasmata, D. Sayers NGF 24173 (K, LAE ).

Notes — A reassessment of this species has resulted in it being more widespread than suggested byConn & Damas (2019). However, the broad species concept applied by Conn & Damas (2019) appeared not taxonomically useful since it included the distinct new species P. kamialiensis . Polyosma forbesii (s.str.) has leaves with margin serrate and 10–27 secondary veins on each side of midvein, whereas P. kamialiensis has entire leaves with 8–10 secondary veins on each side of midvein.

The inflorescence of this species is usually axillary, although the inflorescence of Forbes 315 ( L) is terminal. In Carr 12644 ( L), the inflorescences are axillary but are restricted to the one or two distal nodes. In Forbes 500 ( MEL578183 , one of the isolectotypes) the position of the inflorescence is unclear because most are detached from the specimen, but probably axillary, whereas the inflorescences of the lectotype ( BM611313 ) are mostly axillary in the distal nodes (vs Carr 12644), but with one rachis appearing to be terminal (vs Forbes 315) .

Schlechter (1915) proposed that Ledermann 12010 (not seen) represented a possible new species. However, based on the brief description provided by him, it is here regarded as P. forbesii .