A synopsis of the neotropical genus Pentaplaris, with remarks on its systematic position within core Malvales

Pentaplaris davidsmithii from Peru and Bolivia and P, huaoranica from Ecuad or are described and compared to the only other species previously known in the genus, P. doroteae from Costa Rica. Morphological and palynological ch aracters support the inclusion of Pentaplaris in core Malvales while sugges ting that the original assumption that the genus belonged in Tiliaceae-Brow nlowieae cannot be maintained. Pentaplaris, which comprises three isolated and evidently rare species, probably belongs to the malvoid-bombacoid allia nce, but its position within this clade remains unresolved.