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Three new species of Sciodaphyllum(Araliaceae) are described and illustrated, all from highland areas in the northern part of the eastern Andean Cordillera of Colombia. Sciodaphyllum bipyrenumis distinguished by its bicarpellate ovary with a disc that bulges above the calyx, a bifid stylar column in fruit, and fruits with two-ribbed, triangular or tetrangular pyrenes. Sciodaphyllum bullatifructumis characterized by dense, sericeous, whitish indument that covers the abaxial surface of the leaflet blades and the fleshy hemispheric protuberances on the exposed distal portion of the fruit. Sciodaphyllum foliobracteatumis unique in the genus in having each of its secondary inflorescence axes subtended by a stipular ligule at the base of a distinctly leaf-like structure, and it is also characterized by having 7 to 9 free petals and the largest fruits known in the genus. A distribution map is provided along with color photos of each species and a preliminary risk of extinction assessment (following the IUCN Red List criteria); S. bipyrenumand S. bullatifructumare assessed as Critically Endangered, whereas S. foliobracteatumis considered to be Endangered.

Polyscias munroiLowry & G.M Plunkett is published as a replacement name (nomen novum) for the invalid name Polyscias racemosa(C.N. Forbes) Lowry & G.M. Plunkett (Araliaceae), a later homonym of P. racemosa (Drake) R. Vig. [=P. paniculata(D.C.) Baker].

Until recently, Schefflerawas the largest genus in Araliaceae (with more than 600 described species), but with a growing understanding of its polyphyly, the circumscription of Schefflerahad to be limited to just eight closely related species from the Pacific Islands. To restore monophyly, it was necessary to transfer the remaining, unrelated species to other genera. In most cases, these transfers could be accommodated by resurrecting generic names that had previously been placed in synonymy (namely, Astropanax, Crepinella, Didymopanax, Heptapleurum, Neocussonia, Plerandra, and Sciodaphyllum). For two small Neotropical clades, however, no generic name was available, and for these, we describe two new genera of Araliaceae, Cephalopanaxand Frodinia. As defined here, these genera have two accepted species each, for which four new combinations are made (C. jahnii, C. pachycephalus, F. gleasonii, and F. tremula). Lectotypes are designated for two accepted names, and one previously accepted species (Schefflera cuatrecasasiana) is placed in synonymy. For each accepted species, full synonymy is provided, together with geographic ranges and notes.

In the genus Sciodaphyllum(Araliaceae), some species have paniculate inflorescences with globose capitula as their terminal units, in which numerous tightly packed flowers develop into fruits that are appressed to each other. This informal assemblage, referred to as the “globose-capitate group,” currently includes 20 described species. Three new species with this distinctive morphology are described and illustrated with photographs of plants in the field or scans of herbarium specimens: S. basiorevolutumfrom northern Ecuador at the border of Carchi and Sucumbíos provinces; S. chachapoyensefrom the department of Amazonas, Peru, known only from the province of Chachapoyas; and S. rufilanceolatumfrom the province of Carchi, Ecuador, north of Maldonado along the border with Colombia, and in the Cerro Golondrinas. For each new species, a distribution map and a preliminary risk of extinction assessment (following the IUCN Red List criteria) are provided; S. basiorevolutumis assessed as Vulnerable, whereas S. chachapoyenseand S. rufilanceolatumare both considered to be Endangered.

Didymopanaxhad been recognized for at least a century as the only genus of Araliaceae in the Americas with bicarpellate ovaries, but in recent decades, it had been treated in synonymy under Schefflera, where it has been recognized as an informal group. During this time, several new species belonging to the group were described under Schefflera, but there has been a growing understanding over the past 15 years that this broadly defined genus is polyphyletic, comprising five non-sister clades. The Neotropical species form a monophyletic group, but its five major subclades are both morphologically and geographically coherent, and are therefore being recognized as distinct genera. As a result, CrepinellaMarchal and SciodaphyllumP. Browne have been reinstated (but with new circumscriptions), and the remaining subclades will be accommodated in two new genera. Here we resurrect Didymopanax, transferring the 37 species out of Schefflera. As now defined, Didymopanaxincludes species with bicarpellate as well as a few with 5–6-carpellate ovaries, mostly from the rainforests and open savannic vegetations of Brazil. Twenty-one new combinations are proposed for taxa originally described under PanaxL. (1), Schefflera(19), or Sciodaphyllum(1).

Phylogenetic studies have shown that Schefflera, the largest genus of Araliaceae, is highly polyphyletic, comprising five non-sister clades within the family, and that the generic name must be restricted to a small group of Pacific Island species. In an effort to establish monophyletic genera for the other elements still remaining in Schefflera, phylogenetic analyses of the large Neotropical clade have revealed five morphologically and geographically coherent groups. Here, we reinstate the genus Sciodaphyllum, which corresponds to the largest of these five groups, presenting a synopsis of the 131 currently recognized species, including 109 new combinations, one replacement name (nomen novum), and three new heterotypic synonyms. The re-establishment of Sciodaphyllumopens the way for describing an estimated 200+ new species in the genus, nearly all of which are from the Northern and Central Andes.

Phylogenetic analyses of nuclear rDNA spacers (ITS and ETS) from Azorellaand five closely related genera confirm earlier plastid results indicating that Azorella, Huanaca, Mulinum, and Schizeilemaare all polyphyletic, and that the monotypic genus Laretiais nested within one of the six subclades of Azorella. Only Stilbocarpais monophyletic, but that genus is embedded within a larger clade that includes representatives of three other genera (Azorella, Huanaca, and Schizeilema). Both nuclear and plastid datasets identify the same 10 clades, but the placement of these clades remains unstable. A new classification is presented in which these six genera are reduced to a single genus (Azorella) comprising 58 species arranged in 10 sections, one of which is newly described here (Azorellasect. Ranunculus), and one lectotypified (Azorellasect. Glabratae). A total of 13 new combinations are made (A. albovaginata, A. allanii, A. boelckei, A. burkartii, A. colensoi, A. echegarayi, A. echinus, A. hallei, A. lyallii, A. polaris, A. prolifera, A. robusta, A. ulicina), along with three replacement names (A. atacamensis, A. ruizii, A. schizeilema). For each of the 58 accepted species, a full synonymy is provided along with geographic ranges (and nomenclatural notes, where useful).

Phylogenetic studies have demonstrated that Schefflera, the largest genus of Araliaceae, is grossly polyphyletic, comprising five distinct clades within the family. In an effort to establish monophyletic genera among the elements that currently comprise Schefflera, the genus Plerandrais expanded to encompass all of the members of one of these clades. In this synoptical revision, a new infrageneric classification is presented (along with a key) in which six subgenera are recognized. Four of these subgenera are newly described (Plerandrasubgenera Canacoschefflera, Costatae, Gabriellarum,and Veilloniorum) and a fifth represents a new combination (Plerandrasubg. Dizygotheca). A total of 33 species (one with two subspecies) are accepted, one of which is newly described (P. veilloniorum), and 22 new combinations are made (P. actinostigma, P. baillonii, P. cabalionii, P. costata, P. crassipes, P. elegantissima, P. elongata, P. emiliana, P. gabriellae, P. leptophylla, P. nono, P. osyana, P. osyanasubsp. toto, P. pachyphylla, P. pancheri, P. plerandroides, P. polydactylis, P. reginae, P. seemanniana, P. tannae, P. vanuatua, P. veitchii). Neotypes are provided for six accepted names and one heterotypic synonym, and lectotypes are designated for 13 accepted names and 16 heterotypic synonyms. For each accepted species, full synonymy is provided along with geographic range and notes.