Polyosma buxea Mattf.

Paul, O. K., Conn, B. J. & Henwood, M. J., 2024, Taxonomic review of Polyosma (Escalloniaceae) in Papuasia, Blumea 69, pp. 54-88 : 68

5. Polyosma buxea Mattf.

Polyosma buxea Mattf. (1938) 274. — Type: J. Clemens & M.S. Clemens 3908 (holo B, destroyed), Papua New Guinea, Morobe,Yunzaing, 18 Aug. 1936. — Neotype (designated here): J. Clemens & M.S. Clemens 3526 (G [G388955]), Papua New Guinea, Morobe, Yunzaing, 2 July 1936.

Typification. Johannes Mattfeld cites two collections by J. Clemens & M.S. Clemens , namely, 3526 and 3908 ( Mattfeld 1938: 274), with the latter being designated as the type of this species. However, neither of these Clemens collections have been located at B and both are believed to have been destroyed during the Second World War. Furthermore, no duplicates of J. Clemens & M.S. Clemens 3908 have been located.Since J. Clemens & M.S. Clemens 3526, was regarded as conspecific by Mattfeld, a sheet held at G [G388955] is here selected as the neotype of P. buxea to replace the lost type.

Subcanopy tree 8–15 m tall. Branchlets glabrous, brown, pustular, with lenticels scattered, greyish white. Leaves glabrous; petiole 1–3.5 cm long; lamina narrowly elliptic to slightly narrowly ovate, 4– 20 by 2 – 6 cm, black membranous, drying thinly papery to slightly coriaceous, glabrous, drying brown on both surfaces;base acute, margin entire, apex acuminate; secondary veins 10–28 on each side and at an angle greater than 45° from midrib, regularly looping near margin onto the next lateral vein; tertiary veins weakly percurrent, glabrous, prominent on abaxial surface. Inflorescences racemose, terminal, pendulous,> 30-flowered; rachis 20–35 cm long, glabrous, with flowers tightly clustered; pedicels 4–6 mm long; bracteoles 1–2 mm long, glabrous. Calyx lobes 1–3 mm long. Corolla buds tubular, 8–12(–20) mm long, white; corolla moderately hairy, remaining tubular at anthesis, except opening with 4 small lobes distally. Fruits not seen.

Distribution — Indonesia (Papua Barat) and Papua New Guinea (West Sepik, Morobe, Eastern Highlands, Milne Bay).

Habitat & Ecology — Occurring in lowland forest dominated by Castanopsis (D.Don) Spach ( Fagaceae ) at elevations of 1 000–1 800 m.

Conservation Status — Not known. This species is endemic to the island of New Guinea.

Additional specimens examined. INDONESIA, Papua Barat,Vogelkop,Kebar Valley, P. van Royen 3990 (L). – PAPUA NEW GUINEA, West Sepik, Telefomin, R.J. Johns 194 ( LAE ); Morobe, Wau, T.K. Pratt 79­1143 ( LAE ); Eastern Highlands,Arau, L.J. Brass 32235 (K, L, LAE );Aiyura, J.S. Womersley NGF 4429 (L, LAE ); Milne Bay,Goodenough Island, L.J. Brass 24726 (K, LAE ); Mt Dayman, L.J. Brass 23299 (K, LAE ); Raba Raba, P. Woods, N. Cruttwell & M. Galore NGF 17590 (K, L, LAE ); Mt Riu, Sudest Island, L.J. Brass 27897 (L, LAE ).

Note — This is the only species with pendulous inflorescences. It is morphologically most like P. integrifolia (for details, see notes under the latter species).