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.
Morales et al. (Thu,) studied this question.