446 
Common abbreviations used in the 
specimen citations are HS (homestead), LA 
(Logging Area), NP (National Park), SF/SFR 
(State Forest/State Forest Reserve) and TR 
(Timber Reserve). 
Taxonomy 
Polyscias J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., Char. Gen. 
PI. 63 (1775). 
Shrubs ortrees; leaves alternate, imparipinnate 
or bipinnate (rarely tripinnate or unifoliolate); 
petiole with an expanded sheathing base; 
leaflets in pairs, margins entire, crenate or 
dentate. Inflorescences terminal, paniculate; 
flowers in umbels or less commonly in 
racemes; pedicels often articulated below the 
ovary. Ovary inferior. Calyx rudimentary, 
often comprising 5 small teeth. Petals 4-5(-8), 
valvate. Stamens equal in number to petals. 
Fruit a spherical or laterally flattened drupe, 
crowned by persistent styles. 
1. Polyscias australiana (F.Muell.) Philipson, 
Blumea 24: 171 (1971); Hedera australiana 
F.Muell., Fragm. 4: 120 (1864); Irvingia 
australiana (F.Muell.) F.Muell., Fragm. 
5: 18 (1865); Kissodendron australianum 
(F.Muell.) Seem., J. Bot. 3: 201 (1865); 
Kissodendron australianum (F.Muell.) Seem, 
var. australianum , F.Muell., Descr. Notes 
Papuan PI. 5: 88 (1877). Type: Queensland. 
Rockingham Bay, 1 March 1864, J. Dallachy 
s.n. (lecto: MEL 1533942 [here designated]; 
isolecto: BM 000810429; BR 563082; MEL 
1533941). 
Kissodendron australianum var. furfuraceum 
C.T.White, Contr. Arnold Arbor. 4: 83 (1933). 
Type: Queensland. Cook District: Boonjie, 8 
October 1929, S.F. Kajewski 1256 (holo: BRI). 
Illustrations : Elliot & Jones (1997: 418); 
Cooper & Cooper (2004: 65); Hyland et al. 
( 2010 ). 
Additional selected specimens examined : Queensland. 
Cook District: Mossman River, Feb 1932, Brass 2145 
(BRI); SF 310 Gadgarra, Nov 1995, Forster PIF17970 & 
Spokes (BRI, MEL). North Kennedy District: Kirrama 
Range, Bryce Henry LA, SF 344, Nov 1992, Fell DF2041 
(BRI, CNS, MEL). South Kennedy District: Clarke 
Range, Eungella NP, Broken River, near bridge on road 
to Eungella Dam, Apr 1981, Telford 11182 & Rudd{ BRI, 
CANB, NSW). Port Curtis District: Waterpark Creek, 
Byfield, 1983 , McCabe s.n. (BRI [AQ394772]). Moreton 
Austrobaileya 9 ( 3 ): 445-456 ( 2015 ) 
District: Yandina Creek, SF 351 near Eumundi, Oct 
1993, Bean 6813 (BRI). 
Distribution and habitat : Polyscias 
australiana is endemic to Queensland. It 
is mainly distributed in the Wet Tropics 
bioregion, but extending further south, viz. in 
the Proserpine - Mackay region, the Byfield 
area near Rockhampton, and in a very limited 
area near Eumundi, north of Brisbane (Map 
1). It grows in evergreen notophyll rainforest 
where rainfall exceeds 1500 mm per annum. 
In southern and central Queensland, it is 
found mainly at low altitudes, but at the 
northern end of its range, it extends to 1200 
metres. 
Notes : Polycias australiana is distinguished 
by the pinnate leaves with 7-21 leaflets; the 
rusty hairs on the developing inflorescences, 
vegetative shoots and petiole bases; and the 
primary inflorescence axis bearing many 
secondary axes in 3 or 4 verticils. 
2. Polyscias bellendenkerensis (F.M.Bailey) 
Philipson, Austrobaileya 1: 24 (1977); 
Pentapanax bellendenkerensis F.M.Bailey, 
Queensland Agric. J. 15: 491-492 (1904); 
Kissodendron bellendenkerense (F.M.Bailey) 
Domin, Biblioth. Bot. 89: 484 (1928). Type: 
Queensland. Cook District: Summit of 
Bellenden-Ker, 20-23 July 1904, A. Meston 
170 (holo: BRI). 
Illustrations : Elliot & Jones (1997: 418); 
Cooper & Cooper (2004: 65); Hyland et al. 
( 2010 ). 
Additional selected specimens examined: Queensland. 
Cook District: Upper catchment of Mossman River, 
Mossman Bluff, Jan 1989, Fell & Baird s.n. (BRI 
[AQ457118]); ‘Heathland’ near helicopter pad on W 
slope of S peak of Bartle Frere, Wooroonooran NP, Apr 
1995, Hunter JH766 (BRI); Summit of Centre peak, 
Bellenden Ker, Nov 1972, Webb & Tracey 11914 (BRI, 
CANB). 
Distribution and habitat : Polyscias 
bellendenkerensis is endemic to Queensland 
where it is found in two disjunct areas of the 
Wet Tropics bioregion; on the Mt Bellenden- 
Ker and Mt Bartle Frere massif, and in the 
mountains west of Mossman (Map 2). It 
grows in shrubland or elfin ‘cloud forest’ at 
altitudes of 1100-1600 metres. 
