Studies in Neotropical Araliaceae. IV. Three New Species of Sciodaphyllum from the Eastern Andes of Central Peru

Abstract

Sciodaphyllum P. Browne (Araliaceae) has recently been resurrected to accommodate the majority of Neotropical species previously included in Schefflera J. R. Forst. & G. Forst. Recent field and herbarium studies have revealed many distinctive new species of Sciodaphyllum, including three from the eastern slopes of the Andes in central Peru, which are described and illustrated here: S. geniculatum M. M. Mora, Lowry & G. M. Plunkett, S. oxapampense G. M. Plunkett, Lowry & M. M. Mora, and S. rodolfoi Lowry, G. M. Plunkett & M. M. Mora. The conservation status of S. geniculatum is assessed as Vulnerable (VU) using the IUCN Red List categories and criteria, whereas both S. oxapampense and S. rodolfoi are assessed as Near Threatened (NT).