Abstract
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. basiorevolutum from northern Ecuador at the border of Carchi and Sucumbíos provinces; S. chachapoyense from the department of Amazonas, Peru, known only from the province of Chachapoyas; and S. rufilanceolatum from 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. basiorevolutum is assessed as Vulnerable, whereas S. chachapoyense and S. rufilanceolatum are both considered to be Endangered.