Polyosma finisterrae Schltr.

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

8. Polyosma finisterrae Schltr.

Polyosma finisterrae Schltr. (1915) 131, f. 5A–E. — Type: R. Schlechter 19050 (B, lost), Papua New Guinea, Madang, ‘In den Wäldern des Finisterre-Gebirges (= Finisterre Ranges)’. — Neotype (designated here): D.B. Foreman & A. Vinas LAE 60114 (neo LAE ; isoneo BRI), Papua New Guinea, Central, Boridi.

Typification. Rudolph Schlechter (1915: 9) based his concept of P. finisterrae solely on a single collection ( R. Schlechter 19050) from the Madang Province of Papua New Guinea. The neotype is here based on the botanical illustration (Protologue,f. 5 A – E, p. 10) of this collection since the herbarium specimen has not been found at B. Furthermore, no other material that he may have examined has been located .

Tree, 2–10 m tall. Branchlets glabrous, brown with grey pustules. Leaves glabrous; petiole 0.5–1.5 cm long; lamina elliptic, 3.5–10 by 1–5 cm, coriaceous, drying both surfaces dark brownish black; base acute, margin serrate, sometimes sparsely toothed, apex acuminate; secondary veins 9–20 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, not prominent on abaxial surface. Inflorescence racemose, axillary, 20–30-flowered; rachis 2.5–4 cm long, glabrous, with flowers loosely and evenly arranged; pedicels 2–5 mm long; bracteoles 1–3 mm long, glabrous. Calyx lobes 1–4 mm long. Corolla buds tubular, (4–) 5–14 mm long, white; corolla moderately hairy, fully split into 4 lobes at anthesis. Fruits ovoid, 5 – 8 by 4 – 6 mm, slightly hairy, green to purplish blue, drying black.

Distribution — Papua New Guinea (Morobe, Central, New Ireland).

Habitat & Ecology — Occurring in natural hill forest on ultrabasic soils from elevations of 457–1 300 m.

Conservation status — Like many of the other species of Polyosma occurring in New Guinea, the distribution of this species is inadequately known. However, this species is probably not of concern.

Additional specimens examined. PAPUA NEW GUINEA, Morobe, Kamiali Wildlife Management Area, O. Paul & S.A. James SAJ100 (BISH, LAE );ibid., W. Takeuchi 21049 & 21051 ( LAE );Central,Boridi, D.B. Foreman & A. Vinas LAE 60114 ( LAE ); New Ireland, Mt Agil, J. Regalado 1543 (L, LAE ).

Notes — 1. Schlechter described the petioles (‘Stielchen’) as ‘ca. 1.5 mm long’ ( Schlechter 1915: 128 – in the identification key) is regarded as a typographical error that should be corrected to ‘c. 1.5 cm long.’

2. The young leaves of this species are purplish and whitish. The new species P. infernaralis was previously included in a broad circumscription of P. finisterrae ; however, these species are readily distinguished by several morphological features (see diagnosis of P. infernaralis ).