|
(Last Modified On 11/21/2012)
|
|
|
|
(Last Modified On 11/21/2012)
|
|
Species
|
PEPEROMINA MIACULOSA (L.) Hook.
|
|
PlaceOfPublication
|
Exot. Fl. 2:pl. 92. 1825.
|
|
Synonym
|
Piper maculosu-m L. Sp. P1. 1:30. 1753. Peperomia variegata Ruiz & Pav. Fl. Peruv. & Chil. 1:33, pI. 52, f. 2. 1798. Peperornia septuplinervia C.DC. in Jour. Bot. 4:142. 1866. Peperomia inonsterifolia Griseb. Cat. P1. Cub. 64. 1866. Peperomia leridana Trel. in Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard. 27:303. 1940. Peperomia tenebraegaudens Trel. loc. cit. 305. 1940. Peperoinia Scheryi Trel. loc. cit. 28:426. 1941.
|
|
Description
|
A rather large, sparingly hairy to glabrate, assurgent, succulent herb; stem spotted when growing, up to 10 mm. thick and ascending to 20 or 30 cm., rooting from the nodes of the decumbent basal part; leaves alternate, peltate within 1 cm. of the margin, elliptic-ovate, 6-11 cm. wide X 10-18 cm. long, apex abruptly short-acuminate, base rounded or truncately subcordate, rather faintly 7- to 11- plinerved below, or large leaves with as many more branches above the middle, drying dull and opaque, somewhat pubescent or glabrate; petiole 6-15 cm. long, fleshy, pubescent or glabrate; spikes terminal, solitary or paired, up to 25 cm. long; peduncle up to 5 cm. long, pubescent or glabrate; bracts round-peltate; fruit ellipsoidal, rostrate, stigma at the base of the curved beak.
|
|
Habit
|
herb
|
|
Distribution
|
West Indies, northern South America, and Panama.
|
|
Specimen
|
CHIRIQUi: Finca Lerida to Boquete, alt. 1300-1700 m., Woodson, Allen d Seibert 1176; Bajo Mona, mouth of Quebrada Chiquero, along Rio Caldera, alt. 1500-2000 m., Woodson, Allen b Seibert 993; Bajo Mona, Boquete District, alt. 1350 m., Davidson 486; forests around El Boquete, alt. 1000-1300 m., Pittier 2984; Quebrada Velo, alt. 1800 m., Woodson & Schery 247; Boquete, Boquete District, alt. 1140 m., Davidson 727.
|
|
Note
|
All the specimens seen from Panama are less pubescent than those which have been examined from the West Indies and South America. P. variegita was de- scribed as glabrous and the Panamanian specimens agree in this particular. There is so much variation in this character among individual plants, however, that it does not appear advisable to base specific or varietal distinctions on it. It has been impossible to recognize P. tenebraegaudens, P. Scheryi, and P. leridana as distinct species, although they differ somewhat in the texture of the dried plants, leaf size, length of spikes, etc. None of these characters, however, appear suf- ficiently distinctive to warrant specific or varietal recognition. Field studies and mass collections are required to provide evidence for proper segregation of these questionable species, if such is indicated. All specimens seen from Panama are from an altitude of 1000-2000 meters in the mountains of Chiriqui'.
|
|
Elevation
|
1000-2000 meters
|
|
Tag
|
|
|
|
Project Name
|
|
Tag
|
|
|
|