A New Species of Dendropanax (Araliaceae) from the Pacific Slope of the Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica

J. Francisco Morales; José Esteban Jiménez

doi:10.3417/2025996

J. Francisco Morales University of the West Indies and Missouri Botanical Garden
José Esteban Jiménez University of Florida Herbarium, Florida Museum of Natural History

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3417/2025996

Keywords: Apiales, Araliaceae, conservation, Dendropanax, Mesoamerica, zonas protectoras

Abstract

A new species of Dendropanax Decne. & Planch. (Araliaceae), endemic to Costa Rica, is described and illustrated. Dendropanax xenion J. F. Morales & J. E. Jiménez resembles D. querceti Donn. Sm. in its foliar morphology but differs in its inflorescences with hermaphroditic flowers, arranged in a fascicle or subfascicle of umbels, and fruits with styles fused into a column. It grows in premontane and montane forests at 1400–2000 m and is currently known only from Costa Rica, though it may also occur in western Panama. Its conservation status is preliminarily assessed as Vulnerable (VU D2). We provide diagnostic characters, a comparison to morphologically similar species, information on distribution and habitat, and taxonomic notes. This study emphasizes the region’s significance for the diversity of the genus.