Polylepis occidentalis
Polylepis occidentalis T.Boza & M.Kessler
Polylepis occidentalis T.Boza & M.Kessler is a species in the genus Polylepis (family Rosaceae), native to the western mountains of Peru. It is a tree reaching 3-15 m in height, with imparipinnate leaves having 3-5 pairs of leaflets. The species is distinguished by shorter hairs on the lower leaf surfaces (0.3-0.6 mm), shorter inflorescences (2.4-6.7 cm), and shorter styles (1.5-2.0 mm) compared to P. reticulata.
Description
Polylepis occidentalis is characterized by its imparipinnate leaves, with 3-5 pairs of elliptic leaflets, the second pair from the terminal leaflet being the largest. The leaf surfaces are glabrous above and densely tomentose below with whitish hairs. Inflorescences are pendant, 2.4-6.7 cm long, bearing 4-12 flowers with narrowly triangular floral bracts. Flowers are 6.8-7.6 mm in diameter, with four green, tomentose sepals and 9-15 stamens. Fruits are turbinate, densely villous, and bear variable flattened spines. The species is diploid. It differs from P. reticulata in the shorter hairs, shorter inflorescences, and shorter styles.
