Bean, Polyscias in Queensland 
453 
Map 5. Australian distribution of Polyscias nodosa □, P. purpurea •. 
pioneer species that inhabits disturbed sites in 
evergreen notophyll rainforest in high rainfall 
areas. 
Notes : This species reportedly reaches 30 
metres in height in Australia, and 40 metres 
in New Guinea. Philipson (1979) conjectured 
that it is “possibly the largest araliad known”. 
11. Polyscias willmottii (F.Muell.) Philipson, 
Austrobaileya 1: 24 (1977); Pentapanax 
willmottii F.Muell., Austral. J. Pharm. 2: 125 
(1887). Type: Queensland. Cook District: 
Mt Bellenden-Ker, in 1887, W.A. Sayer & 
A. Day ids on 34 (lecto: MEL 672698 [here 
designated]; isolecto: MEL 672699). 
Illustrations : Cooper & Cooper (2004: 66); 
Hyland et al. (2010); Nicholson & Nicholson 
(2004: 57). 
Additional selected specimens examined : Queensland. 
Cook District: 27.3 km from the Rex Highway on Mt 
Lewis Road near Julatten, Nov 1990, Holland 36 (BRI, 
NSW); Black Snake Lookout, Wooroonooran NP, Jul 
1995, Hunter JH4624 (BRI); Boulder field, 50 m north 
of Bower Bird site, just past NW Peak, Bartle Frere, May 
2004, Jensen 1397 (BRI, MEL); summit of Mt Lewis, 
Nov 1988, Jessup GJM5134 et al. (BRI, DNA, NSW); 
North Mary LA, SF 143, Jul 1994, Forster PIF15624 
(BRI, CNS, MEL, NSW). 
Distribution and habitat: Polyscias willmottii 
is endemic to Queensland, and confined to 
the Wet Tropics bioregion between Mt Bartle 
Frere and Thornton Peak (Map 4). It grows 
in high-altitude rainforest or ‘cloud forest’, 
between 1000-1600 metres. 
Notes: Polyscias willmottii is distinguished 
by the glabrous new-growth, the wavy leaflet 
margins, the relatively long petiolules and the 
5-locular fruits. 
