Bolivia. Potosi: Prov. Bilbao, 31 km SW Acacio on road to Sacaca and Uncia, 18°06'S, 66°08'W, 3500 m, 22 Aug 1991, Kessler 3410 (holotype: LPB!; isotypes: AUU!, F!, G!, GOET!, MO!, NY, US!, USM!).

Trees 4–12 m tall. Leaves slightly congested at the branch tips, imparipinnate with 3–4 pairs of leaflets, obtrullate in outline, (3.9–)4.6–7.1(–8.5) × (2.7–)3.2–5.3 cm; rachises glabrescent to sparsely hispid, points of leaflet attachment with a tuft of long, white hairs; stipular sheaths apically acute with spurs, glabrescent to sparsely hispid on the outer surfaces; leaflets elliptic in outline, second pair from the terminal leaflet the largest, one of this pair 1.6–2.9 × 0.6–1.2 cm; margin serrate with 12–18 teeth, apically acute, basally unequally cordate; upper leaflet surfaces glabrous; lower leaflet surfaces glabrous or puberulous. Inflorescences branched, pendant, (4.3–)5.2–12.7(–14.0) cm long, bearing 14–27 flowers; floral bracts 2.8–4.6 mm long, narrowly triangular, glabrous to sparsely hispid on the outer surface; rachises glabrous. Flowers 4.6–6.3 mm diam.; sepals 4, ovate, green, sparsely hispid outside; stamens 7–20, anthers orbicular, with a dense tuft of straight white hairs on the upper half; styles fimbriate, 1.5–2.2 mm long. Fruits turbinate, with 2–3(–4) irregular and pronounced wings, glabrous or sparsely hispid; 4.8–9.8 × 3.4–5.5 mm including spines. Diploid and hexaploid.

Polylepisneglecta is endemic to central Bolivia. It occurs in the Boliviano-Tucumanic Forest at 2100–3700 m elevation (Fig. 73). It often occurs together with P.hieronymi and P.besseri or in mixed forest with Podocarpusparlatorei, Alnusacuminata, Juglansaustralis, Azarasalicifolia, Fagaracoco, Prunustucumanensis, Schinusmicrophyllus and Escalloniamillegrana (Kessler 1995b; Navarro and Maldonado 2002; Navarro et al. 2005; Gareca et al. 2010). In P.neglecta, a germination rate of 10% has been recorded (Vega et al. 2018). The seeds have low humidity, being able to be treated as orthodox seeds with the capability of being stored for a long time without losing their germinative power (Vega et al. 2018).

The EOO for Polylepisneglecta is estimated as 24,431 km², the AOO is assessed at 44 km² and it is known from nine locations. The species was categorized as VU (A1acd, B1+2c) by Oldfield et al. (1998). Later, based on its severely fragmented habitat and the constant deterioration by collection of firewood for charcoal and fire regimens, it was listed as VU (B1ab(ii,iii)) in the Red List of Bolivia (Arrázola and Coronado 2012). It does not occur in any protected area and the agricultural expansion, logging and fire regime are reducing populations. Based on its fragmented and degraded distribution and the lack of habitat protection, we assess P.neglecta as Vulnerable (A1,2a, B1a+B2a, C2a).

For morphological similarities, see under P.hieronymi and P.australis.

Bolivia. Chuquisaca: Azurduy, ca. 20 km NW Tarvita on road to Tarabuco, 19°54'S, 064°34'W, 2900 m, 24 September 1991, Kessler 3434 (AAU!, GOET!); ca. 20 km NW Tarvita on road to Tarabuco, 19°54'S, 064°34'W, 2900 m, 24 September 1991, Kessler 3435 (GOET!); 3436; 3437 (AAU!, GOET!); 3625; 3626; 3627; 3628; 3629; 3630; 3631; 3633; 3634; 3635; 3663; 3664; 3665; 3666; 3667; 3668 (GOET!). Belisario Boeto, trayecto Villa Serrano hacia la comunidad de Tampa Mayu y Nuevo Mundo hacia el Cuenca del Río Grande, 19°00'04"S, 064°18'55"W, 1250 m, 12 October 2007, Cervantes 164 (HSB, MO!); 8 km SW Nuevo Mundo on road to Padilla, 19°25'S, 064°11'W, 2500 m, 07 October 1991, Kessler 3316 (AAU!, GOET!); 18 km de Villa Serrano hacia Valle Grande, 18°57'S, 064°20'W, 2500 m, 27 August 1994, Moraes 1840 (LPB); 18 m by road NE of Villa Serrano on road to Nuevo Mundo, 19°00'42"S, 064°20'04"W, 2550 m, 20 July 2004, Nee 52789 (MO!, NY, USZ); Municipio de Villa Serrano, Comunidad de Ovejeros, 19°01'32"S, 064°20'20"W, 2489 m, 18 December 2003, Portal 618 (HSB, MO!). Tomina, Padilla 26 kms hacia Monteagudo, 2600 m, 08 March 1981, Beck 6323 (GOET!); ca. 20 km SE Padilla on road to Monteagudo, 19°03'S, 064°16'W, 2450 m, 07 October 1991, Kessler 3320 (GOET!). Cochabamba: Mizque, 17°49'S, 065°26'W, 3200 m, 05 May 1987, Estenssoro 802 (LPB). s.d., Saravia 1165 (BOLV). Potosí: Alonso de Ibanez, antes de llegar a Chiro Q’asa, 18 March 1993, Torrico 198 (GOET!); 199 (GOET!). Gral. Bilbao, 31 km SW de Acacio, camino Sacaca y Uncia, 18°06'S, 066°08'W, 3500 m, 22 August 1991, Kessler 3019 (GOET!, LPB, MO!); 31 km SW Acacio on road to Sacaca and Uncia, 18°06'S, 066°08'W, 3500 m, 22 August 1991, Kessler 3411 (AAU!, GOET!); 3522; 3523; 3524; 3525; 3526; 3528; 3529; 3531; 3532; 3533; 3534; 3535; 3536; 3537; 3538; 3539; 3540; 3541; 3542 ; 3543; 3544; 3545; 3546; 3547; 3548; 3550; 3551; 3552; 3555; 3647 (GOET!). San Pedro de Buena Vista, Bilbao 31 km. SW Acacio on road to Sacaca and Uncia, 18°06'S, 066°08'W, 3500 m, 22 August 1991, Kessler 3410 (AAU!, G, GOET!, LPB, MO!, NY, US!, USM!). Santa Cruz: Comarapa, about 25 km from Pojo, the road Cochabamba–Santa Cruz about 215 km from Cochabamba, 17°50'S, 064°40'W, 2950 m, 21 April 1987, Brandbyge 717 (AAU!). Manuel Maria Caballero, ca. 55 km W Comarapa on road to Cochabmaba, 17°50'S, 064°42'W, 2600 m, 06 October 1991, Kessler 3302 (AAU!); ca. 50 km W Comarapa on road to Cochabamba, 17°50'S, 064°41'W, 2800 m, 06 October 1991, Kessler 3303 (GOET!); Siberia, alrrededores de la escuela y tramo de 2 km al S bajando por el camino a Oconi. Ladera SSW, 17°50'S, 064°45'W, 25 July 2000, Vargas 4975 (GOET!, NY, USZ).