Polyosma integrifolia Blume

Paul, O. K., Conn, B. J. & Henwood, M. J., 2024, Taxonomic review of Polyosma (Escalloniaceae) in Papuasia, Blumea 69, pp. 54-88 : 74-76

17. Polyosma integrifolia Blume

Polyosma integrifolia Blume (1826) 659. — Lectotype (designated here): C.L. Blume s.n. (L [L 0035091]; isolecto A), Indonesia, Java (Jawa Barat), ‘ in sylvis altioribus montis Burangrang (= Gunung Burangrang)’ ( Blume 1826), without date (see Typification 1 below).

Polyosma brachyantha Merr. (1916) 273. — Lectotype (designated here): C.B. Robinson 1816 (lecto US [ US 1293396]), Indonesia, Maluku,‘Amboina’ (= Ambon), Nov. 1913.Possible syntypes: Robinson 1814, 1815 ( US) (see Typification 2 below).

Typification. 1. The collection from Java (= Jawa) by C.L.Blume (L 0035091) consists of several samples. Some are fragmented, although the central specimen, mounted with leaves directed toward the bottom and side of the herbarium sheet, is morphologically in agreement with the concept applied by most authors and is in agreement with the very brief protologue ( Blume 1826). Georg Schulze-Menz had already annotated L 0035091 (in 1967) as suitable ‘lectotype’ material.

2. The protologue ( Merrill 1916: 274) listed the specimens examined as “ Rel. [iquiae] Robins. [onianae] 1814, 1815, 1816 type. ” It is unclear if Merrill regarded all three collections as syntypes or if he intended Robinson 1816 to be the type, hence holotype. Since it is possible that he intended that only the latter specimen was to be the type, this specimen has been here designated as the lectotype.

Subcanopy to canopy tree, 6–20 m tall, bole 8–10 m long, 8–30 cm diam. Branchlets glabrous, pustules grey. Leaves glabrous; petiole 0.5–3 cm long; lamina elliptic, 5–19 by 2–6 cm, coriaceous, drying both surfaces light brown; base acute, margin entire, infrequently with an occasional tooth (possibly correlated with juvenile leaves), apex acuminate; secondary veins 13–42 on each side of midrib and at an angle greater than 45° from midrib, looping near margin onto the next secondary vein; tertiary veins weakly percurrent, glabrous, slightly prominent on abaxial surface. Inflorescence racemose, terminal,> 30-flower- ed; rachis 9–22 cm long, hairy; pedicels (3–) 4–9 mm long; bracteoles 1–2 mm long, hairy. Calyx lobes 1–3 mm long. Corolla buds tubular, (5–) 7–10 mm long, white, often with pinkish tinge; corolla moderately hairy, remaining tubular at anthesis, except opening with 4 small lobes distally. Fruits ovoid, 4–10 by 2–8 mm, glabrous, green maturing to bluish black.

Distribution — Andaman Islands, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia (Jawa, Bali, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Sulawesi, Maluku), Timor Leste, and widespread throughout New Guinea to the Solomon Islands ( Anonymous 2020; POWO continuously updated).

Habitat & Ecology — Occurring in lowland forest, from elevations up to 1 500(–2 000) m.

Conservation status — Widespread species that is not considered to be at risk.

Additional specimens examined. BRUNEI, Tjiboebas 43 (WAG1930306). – INDONESIA, Sumatera, Korthals s.n., without date (L [L1867290]); Jawa, Madioen [Madiun], Ngebel, S.H. Koorders 29395B (U); Sulawesi, Sulawesi Tengah, Mt Roroka Timbu, c. 80 km SSE of Palu, E.F. de Vogel 5439 (L); Bali, Gunung Batu Kau, A. Dilmy 985 (L); Nusa Tenggara Timur (Kl. Soenda Eil[and]), Flores, E. Schumtz 1109 (L); Maluku, Amboina [Palau Ambon], B. Robinson 1816 (A, BM, L, US); Papua Barat, Geelvink Bay, Seroei, Eil[and] Japen, L. J. van Dijk Netherlands Indies Forest Service bb30450 (L); Wapoga River Area, J.P.Mogea 7030 (L);Wondiwoi Mountains,Wandammen Peninsula, F.A.W. Schram BW 13466 & BW 13467 (L). – MALAYSIA, Sabah, Kg. [Kampong] Monsok, Joseph, Lideh, Donggop & Gambio SAN110060 (L). – PAPUA NEW GUINEA, West Sepik, Torricelli Mountains, P.J. Darbyshire 231 (L, LAE ); Mekil Research Station,Mt Stolle, R.Kiapranis KP465 (L); East Sepik, Mt Hunstein, W. Takeuchi 6303 (K, LAE ); Morobe, Markham Point, P. Garrett­Jones 21144 ( LAE ); Henty NGF 11970 ( LAE ); Oomsis, T.G. Hartley 10483 (K, L, LAE ); Buso, D.B. Foreman LAE 52337 (L, LAE ); Allen Allison Track, W of Araro 1 River, W of Lababia, B.J. Conn 5805, K.Q. Damas, K.M. Fazang & O. Paul (LAE, NSW) ;Kamiali, W. Takeuchi 21173, T. Jisaka, A. Towati & D. Ama (L, LAE ); Bubuu Valley, S. James 336 (NSW); Mt Missim, J.L.C. H. van Valkenburg 700 ( LAE ); Southern Highlands, Hides, W. Takeuchi 19036, A. Towati & T. Jisaka (L, LAE ); Western, Eastern side of Bianglopmik (Lake Vivian), N of Biang Bluff, southern slopes of Star Mountains, B.J. Conn 5990, K.D.Q. Damas, D.J. Damas & P. Homot ( LAE, NSW ); Oriomo River, J.S. Womersley & J. Havel NGF 17713 (K, LAE ); Central, Sogeri, H.O. Forbes 692 (K, L, LAE ); Milne Bay, Woodlark Islands, L.J. Brass 28599 ( LAE ); Misima Islands, L.J. Brass 27482 ( LAE ); New Britain, Kandrian, D. Sayers NGF 21975 (K, L, LAE ); New Ireland, New Hanover, J.R. Croft LAE 65500 (L, LAE ); Namatanai, M. Coode & M.J.S. Sands NGF 57180 ( LAE ); O. Gideon LAE 57180 (L, LAE ); Manus, Derimbat, D.B. Foreman LAE 52356 (BRI, L, LAE ); Buyang, K. Kerenga & J.R. Croft LAE 77334 (L, LAE ); near Buyang II village, M.J.S. Sands 2605, G.A. Pattison & J.J. Woods ( LAE ); Derimbat, D.B. Foreman LAE 52356 ( LAE, NSW ); Peil Kaw, K. Kerenga et al. LAE 77547 (K, L, LAE ); Dage, N.E.G.C. Cruttwell 1773 (K, LAE ); Mt Dremsel, B.C. Stone & H. Streimann LAE 53662 (L, LAE ); Bougainville,Paguna, R.Berena 217 ( LAE ); Siwai, J.H.L. Waterhouse 625­B (L). – SOLOMON ISLANDS, Choiseul, I.H. Gafui & collectors BSIP17415 (L); New Georgia, NW Kolombangara, Rei Area, R. Mauriasi & collectors BSIP11638 (L); Gatukai Islands, C.T. Whitmore BSIP1254 ( LAE ); Santa Isabel, Binusa, W.W. Beer’s collectors BSIP6618 (L); Barora Ite islands, Madagha bay Area, R. Mauriasi BSIP16199 ( LAE ); Guadalcanal, Makina Area, R. Mauriasi & collectors BSIP11282 (L); ridge top Duidui Area, R. Mauriasi & collectors BSIP12064 (L); Malaita, Lataanihato Area (Wairokai), I.H. Gafui & collectors BSIP10265 (L); West Coast Kiu, Z.Lipaqeto BSIP3556 ( LAE ); San Cristobal, Tetera, I.H. Gafui & collectors BSIP12518 (L); Wairaha River, C.T Whitmore BSIP4375 ( LAE ).

Notes — This species is morphologically most like P. buxea , with both species having glabrous leaves and white corollas. However, the leaves of P. integrifolia are elliptic with margin entire or occasionally with a small tooth, whereas P. buxea has narrowly elliptic to slightly narrowly ovate leaves with margin always entire.

Polyosma integrifolia has many morphological similarities to P. induta , but the latter species has serrate leaves whereas P. integrifolia has entire leaves. Reeder (1946) suggested that P. brachyantha , originally described as a species from Maluku ( Indonesia), occurred in Papua New Guinea, based on two collections that he cited (Brass 3899 and Kajewski 1647). Unfortunately, these specimens were not available for study, so we were unable to determine their identity with certainty. However, this taxon is here regarded as a synonym of P. integrifolia based on its protologue.

As currently recognized, P. integrifolia is a very widespread, broadly circumscribed species. Blume (1851) circumscribed several varieties within P. integrifolia . Although a more detailed evaluation of the morphological variation within this species is required, the broad species concept applied here appears to summarize adequately the taxonomy of this taxon. Plants of this species occurring at higher elevations in Papua New Guinea tend to have shorter petioles and smaller leaf laminas than those growing at lower elevations.