(Last Modified On 11/19/2012)
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(Last Modified On 11/19/2012)
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Species
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PIPER RETICULATUM L.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Sp. P1. 1:29. 1753.
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Synonym
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Piper smilacifolium H.B.K. Nov. Gen. & Sp. 1:56. 1815. Piper latum H.B.K. loc. cit. 57. 1815. Enckea smilacifolia Kunth, in Linnaea 13:605. 1839. Enckea lata Kunth, loc. cit. 606. 1839. Enckea reticulate Miq. Syst. Pip. 365. 1843. Macropiper latum Presl, Epim. Bot. 223. 1849. Piper Duchassaingii C.DC. in DC. Prodr. 161:251. 1869.
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Description
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A glabrous shrub or small tree up to 4-6 m. tall; branches slender, nodose; leaves elliptic, elliptic-ovate, or broadly ovate, 8-15 cm. wide X 15-25 cm. long or occasionally up to 25 cm. wide X 30 cm. long, apex acuminate, base essentially equilateral, more or less acute, truncited, or in large leaves shallowly cordate, palmately 5- to 7-nerved, or larger leaves 9-nerved, the nerves prominent beneath, reticulate-veiny with rather prominent cross-connecting nervules, drying firin and chartaceous; petiole 1-2 cm. long, glabrate or very obscurely puberulent-papillate, grooved above, vaginate near the base; spikes 5-6 mm. thick and up to 10 or 12 or occasionally 15 cm. long when mature; peduncle slender, 1-2 cm. long; rachis with membranous, fimbriated ridges; bracts peltately dilated upward, pedicel and margin bearded; stamens 4; fruit obovoid, somewhat 4-sided, papillate, with an apical, smooth, disc-like area, stigmas 3 or 4, rounded.
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Habit
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shrub tree
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Distribution
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West Indies and on the mainland from Central America through northern South America.
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Specimen
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BOCAS DEL TORO: Lower Changuinola River, Stork 5o. CHIRIQUI: Progreso, Cooper t Slater I85. CANAL ZONE: along Cafio Quebrado, Pittier 6986; around Gamboa, alt. 40-80 m., Pittier 3778; between Gorgona and Gatuin, alt. 10-50 m., Pittier 2279; near Gatuin, Standley 2720I; Mamei Hill, alt. 20-90 m., Pittier 38ii; near Summit, Standley 25728; Cerro Gordo, near Culebra, Standley 26008; Rio Pedro Miquel, near East Paraiso, Standley 29969; vicinity of Fort Sherman, Standley 30959; Barro Colorado Island, Standley 3I267; Miller 2075; Matachin, Kuntze i9i8; Obispo, Standley 3I726; vicinity of Gatuncillo, Piper 5603, 5620; Rio Agua Salud, near Frijoles, Piper 5859, 586o; Empire, Miller I867; Madden Dam Road, Miller I800; along Rio Chagres between Gamboa and Alahuela, alt. 30-60 m., Allen 956. COLON: between France Field and Catival, Standley 30338; along Rio Fato, alt. 10-100 m., Pittier 3872, 3882; Fato, Pittier 3842. PANAMA: Rio Tapia, Standley 26i60, 28035, 2824I; near Tapia River, Juan Diaz region, Maxon d Harvey 665o, 6708; Juan Diaz, Standley 30548; Rio Tecumen, Standley 29363. DARIEN: along Sambu' River, Pittier 5570.
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Note
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The large, glabrous, rather veiny leaves, comparatively short spikes, and especially the prominent glabrous disc at the top of the papillate fruit, characterize this species. There is a wide variation in the size of the leaves.
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