Polyosma Blume

Paul, O. K., Conn, B. J. & Henwood, M. J., 2024, Taxonomic review of Polyosma (Escalloniaceae) in Papuasia, Blumea 69, pp. 54-88 : 61-62

Polyosma Blume

Polyosma Blume (1826) 658. — Lectotype (designated by Hutchinson 1967: 31): Polyosma ilicifolia Blume.

Shrubs or small to large trees. Leaves simple, opposite or subopposite, petiolate, pinnatinerved, with margin entire or variously toothed. Inflorescence a raceme, sometimes spicate (flowers rarely solitary), mostly terminal, rarely axillary, usually erect, sometimes pendulous. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, usually fragrant, sessile or pedicellate; bracteoles free, 3, or connate and single, then 3-fid, inserted at or near base of calyx. Calyx tube adnate to ovary (hypanthium) and lobes reduced so calyx 4-dentate, persistent. Corolla fused into a long tube with lobes 4, valvate, sometimes splitting almost to base, epigynous, not persistent. Stamens 4, not attached to corolla; filaments hairy; anthers basifixed. Ovary inferior, 1-loculate, glabrous; ovules many; style simple, filiform; stigma capitate or truncate. Fruit an indehiscent 1-loculate drupe, with sepals persistent distally, usually maturing to bluish or purplish black, 1-seeded.

For a comprehensive generic description, refer to Bean & Forster (2021).

Distribution — It is likely that there are almost 100 species (taxonomic revisions still required), occurring from China (South Central and Southeast), south through Bangladesh (Indian sub- continent), and south-east Asia ( Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Assam), Malesia ( Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Philippines, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea), and the Solomon Islands, then south to the east coast of Australia (Queensland and New South Wales) and extending east to New Caledonia.

Note — Polyosma ilicifolia is included here as it is the type of the genus and as the types of all names included in this species are lectotypified. The species occurs outside the area of interest and is not included in the identification key.