Studies in Neotropical Araliaceae. XIII. Four new globose-capitate species of Sciodaphyllum from the Northern and Eastern Andes of Ecuador.
Résumé
Four new species of Sciodaphyllum (Araliaceae) are described from Ecuador, S. antisanense, S. bassianum, S. fimbriocalyx, and S. guacamayosense. These species are “globose-capitate”, characterized by having ultimate inflorescence units that form large, spherical to ovoid or obovoid heads in which the individual fruits are tightly appressed. This brings the total number of described globose-capitate species in Ecuador to 12 (with an additional 10 new species still remaining to be described). Field photos are provided for three of the new species, and the fourth is illustrated by the scan of a type specimen. Distribution maps are provided for all four species, three of which occur in Napo Province (S. antisanense, S. fimbriocalyx, and S. guacamayosense) while the fourth is known from Carchi Province. Preliminary risk of extinction assessments based on IUCN Red List criteria indicate that S. antisanense, S. fimbriocalyx, and S. guacamayosense are Endangered (EN), whereas S. bassianum is Critically Endangered (CR).