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Studies in Neotropical Araliaceae. VII. Two new genera, Cephalopanax and Frodinia, to accommodate the remaining species of Neotropical Schefflera

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Abstract

Until recently, Schefflera was the largest genus in Araliaceae (with more than 600 described species), but with a growing understanding of its polyphyly, the circumscription of Schefflera had 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, Cephalopanax and 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.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the U.S. National Science Foundation (DEB 0943958, 1556327, and 1556139) and the National Geographic Society (CRE 5793-96, 8355-07). The authors gratefully acknowledge the constructive reviews provided by Pedro Fiaschi and a second, anonymous reviewer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cullman Program for Molecular Systematics, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY, 10458-5126, USA

    Gregory M. Plunkett

  2. Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA

    Porter P. Lowry II

  3. Institut de Systématique, Évolution, et Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne Université, École Pratique des Hautes Études, Université des Antilles, C.P. 39, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France

    Porter P. Lowry II

  4. Universidad Estatal Amazónica, Paso Lateral, 160150, Puyo, Pastaza, Ecuador

    David A. Neill

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  1. Gregory M. Plunkett
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Correspondence to Gregory M. Plunkett.

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Plunkett, G.M., Lowry, P.P. & Neill, D.A. Studies in Neotropical Araliaceae. VII. Two new genera, Cephalopanax and Frodinia, to accommodate the remaining species of Neotropical Schefflera. Brittonia 73, 251–261 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12228-021-09660-1

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