Hoya alata K. Hill 1986

Type description:

            In Telopea 3(1) (1986) 249.  K. Hill.  3. Hoya alata K. Hill sp. nov. Ab Hoya poolei lobis coronae angustioribus, foliis latioribus et plus nitidis sed non basaliter auriculatis differt. Type: Queensland: Pascoe River rockpile, B. Wallace 83250, 16.9.1983 (holo: NSW; iso: BRI, K, L). Latin alata, 'winged', referring to the winged caudicles occurring only in this species among the Australian members of this genus.
     A glabrous lithophytic or terrestrial twiner.  Leaves fleshy to coriaceous, ovate or rhomboid, acute, tapering to a narrowly chordate base, pale green, pink or pale bronze when growing in strong light. 3-7 cm long, 2.5-5.0 cm wide; margins and apex recurved; venation obscure, sub-parallel or somewhat palmate, petioles 3-8 mm long, 2-4 mm diam.  Peduncles 4-7 cm long, slender, geotropic. Pedicels 1-3 cm long, slender, unequal. Umbels 4-10-flowered.  Sepals triangular, 1-2 mm long.  Corolla recurved, distinctly pilose, pale pink or almost white, 8-14 mm diam.  Corona 4-7 cm diam., Creamy-white; segments oblong-linear, convex above, with two longitudinal, inrolled keels extending the full length below, inner angle raised, outer angle laid back.  Fruit 7-14 cm long, 0.7-1.2 cm diam.
Distinguished from the New Guinea species H. poolei C. White & Francis by the narrower corona lobes and the broader, glossier leaves without distinctly sagittate bases.
Endemic to Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, presently known only from the Iron Range area northward.  Locally common on rocky slopes and headlands. Although abundant in this region, this species remained undiscovered until the early 1970s. It is usually lithophytic on jumbled granite rock piles which outcrop throughout the higher rainfall parts of the Iron Range region.
Selected Specimens: Queensland: Iron Range, B. Gray NSW 192781. 1972 (NSW); Tozers Gap, K. Hill 1870, 29.7.1986 (NSWI).

Distinguished from the New Guinea species H. poolei C. White & Francis by the narrower corona lobes and the broader, glossier leaves without distinctly sagittate bases.
Endemic to Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, presently known only from the Iron Range area northward.  Locally common on rocky slopes and headlands. Although abundant in this region, this species remained undiscovered until the early 1970s. It is usually lithophytic on jumbled granite rock piles which outcrop throughout the higher rainfall parts of the Iron Range region.
Selected Specimens: Queensland: Iron Range, B. Gray NSW 192781. 1972 (NSW); Tozers Gap, K. Hill 1870, 29.7.1986 (NSWI).

Other literature:

In Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation (1990) 386. W. Roger Elliot & David L. Jones. Hoya alata K. Hill (winged). Qld.  Rock Pile Hoya 3 ‑ 5 m tall Sept‑Nov, also sporadic.
Terrestrial or lithophytic climber with much branched, twining stems; young growth shiny; leaves 3‑7 cm x 2.5‑5 cm, ovate to obovate or rhomboid, on petioles 0.3‑0.8 cm long, rigid, thick and fleshy, pale shiny green, pinkish or bronze; peduncles 4‑7 cm long; umbels 4‑10‑flowered; flowers about I cm across, pale pink with a darker corona, on pedicels l‑3cm long; follicles 7‑14cm x 0.7‑1.2cm. Endemic in  ranges of central Cape York Peninsula, where it grows among piles of granite boulders, often Firming curtains of foliage. An excellent species whicl1 can be grown as a garden plant ill tropical and subtropical regions. It is especially attractive when grown among rocks or over a wall. In temperate regions it can be grown as a glasshouse plant with a minimum temperature of 5—8°C. It is successful in a pot or basket and is readily trained into a compact habit. Flowering occurs regularly, especially in situations of bright light. Propagate Tom seed, or from cuttings, which strike readily.