Polyosma cestroides Schltr.

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

6. Polyosma cestroides Schltr.

Polyosma cestroides Schltr.(1915) 129; P. Royen (1983) 2523,f. 736. — Type : C. Ledermann 12566 (holo B [ B10-0296088 ]), Papua New Guinea, West Sepik,‘ Felsspitze ’, (= vicinity of Sepik River,near August River ) ( Veldkamp et al. 1988), 3 Aug. 1913 .

Polyosma tubulosa Schltr. (1915) 130. — Type: C. Ledermann 12210 (holo B [B_10_0296089]), Papua New Guinea, Madang,‘ Schraderberg’ (= Schrader Mountains ), 12 June 1913.

Subcanopy to sometimes canopy tree, 5– 20 m high, bole 4– 16 m, 10–13 cm diam. Branchlets glabrous, dark brown, smooth with no lenticels. Leaves glabrous; petiole 0.5–2.5 cm long; lamina elliptic, 4–15 by 2–6 cm, coriaceous; discolours in dried material to dark brown to black adaxially, very dark brown abaxially; base acute to cuneate, margin entire, apex attenuate or long tapering; secondary veins 8–21 on each side and at an angle greater than 45° from midrib, regularly looping near margin on to the next secondary vein; tertiary vein weakly percurrent, glabrous and very prominent on abaxial surface. Inflorescence racemose, terminal, 20–30-flowered; rachis 1.5–9 cm long, densely hairy; flowers loosely and evenly arranged towards distal end of rachis; pedicels (2.5–) 3–5 mm long, narrow; bracteoles 1–3 mm long, hairy. Calyx lobes 1–3 mm long. Corolla buds tubular, (5–) 10–25 mm long, light brownish green; corolla moderately hairy, remaining tubular at anthesis, except opening with 4 small lobes distally. Fruits ovoid, 5–13 by 4–9 mm, slightly hairy, green to purple.

Distribution — Papua New Guinea (West Sepik, East Sepik, Madang, Morobe, Western Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Southern Highlands, Gulf, Milne Bay).

Habitat & Ecology — Occurring in mid- to upper montane mossy forests from elevations of (600–)2 000–3 300 m.

Conservation status — Not regarded as of concern.

Additional specimens examined. INDONESIA, Indonesia Papua,Snow Mountains, Idenburg River, 15 km SW of Bernhard Camp; L.J. Brass 12285 (BRI, L, LAE ). – PAPUA NEW GUINEA, West Sepik, Bewani Mountains, J. Waikabu et al. LAE 50546 (L, LAE ); East Sepik, Mt Hunstein, R. Hoogland 10983 (L, LAE ); Victor Emmanuel Range, P. van Royen 11318 ( LAE ); ibid., P. van Royen 11332 (L, LAE ); ibid., P. van Royen 11334 (L, LAE ); Madang, near Kaironk Village, G. Weiblen 1029, M. Evans, B. Isua & S. Majneb (L, LAE ); Morobe,Aseki, L.A. Craven 1153 & R. Schodde (L, LAE ); ibid., L.A. Craven 1246 & R. Schodde (L, LAE ); Mt Wasaunon-Kabum, K. Fazang LAE 78746 ( LAE ); ibid., K. Fazang LAE 78747 ( LAE ); ibid., K. Fazang LAE 78866 ( LAE, NSW ); Lake Trist, E.E. Henty NGF 29019 (K, LAE ); Salamaua, A.N. Millar NGF 22815 7 (K, L, LAE ); Wau, T.K. Pratt 1006 & 1118 ( LAE ); Eddie Creek, C.D. Sayers NGF 19964 (K, L, LAE );Mt Kaindi, L.J. Brass 29725 (L, LAE );Mt Missim, J.L. Gressitt BMF310 ( LAE ); Kuper Range, W. Takeuchi 403 ( LAE ); Mt Kurunkurungun, A. Vinas LAE 59855 (L, LAE ); Western Highlands, Mt Kaiap, H. Tagawa 212 ( LAE ); Wabag, J.R. Flenley ANU 2682 (K, LAE ); Yaki River, R.D. Hoogland 6966 & R. Schodde (BRI, L, LAE ); Eastern Highlands, Mt Wilhelm, L.J. Brass 30560 (L, LAE ); Okapa, L.J. Brass 31813 (L, LAE ); Mt Michael, L.J. Brass 31306 (L, LAE ); Southern Highlands, Mt Giluwe, N.M.U. Clunie & G. Larivita LAE 63219 (L, LAE ); Gulf, Tauri River, R. Pullen 6585 (L, LAE ); Milne Bay, Mt Dayman, L.J. Brass 23207 (K, L, LAE ).

Notes — Widespread, high-elevation species that differs from P. occulta with its entire margin and long tapering apex. It is morphologically most like P. dentata , differing from the latter species by being a taller tree (5–20 m high, vs 4–6.8 m high in P. dentata ), with base of leaf acute to cuneate (vs P. dentata acute), leaf margin entire (vs serrate for P. dentata ), and leaf apex attenuate to long-tapering (vs acuminate in P. dentata ).

Reeder (1946) regarded this species (as P. tubulosa ), as occurring in Indonesia (Papua), based on Brass 12285.