Peperomia inaequilatera
| Peperomia inaequilatera | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Piperales |
| Family: | Piperaceae |
| Genus: | Peperomia |
| Species: | P. inaequilatera |
| Binomial name | |
| Peperomia inaequilatera | |
Peperomia inaequilatera is a species of terrestrial or epiphytic herb in the genus Peperomia that is native to Peru.[1][2] It grows on wet tropical biomes.[1] Its conservation status is Threatened.[3]
Description
The type specimen were collected at Río Santo Domingo, Peru at an altitude of 1500 meters above sea level.[4]
Peperomia inaequilatera is a moderately small (perhaps creeping), ascending, densely puberulous herb with a somewhat slender stem 2–3 mm thick and short internodes. The leaves are typically in whorls of 3 at the nodes. They are elliptic-oblong, somewhat acute to obtuse at both ends, and small, about 2 cm long and 1 cm wide. Leaves on sterile branchlets are larger, reaching 4.5 cm long and 2 cm wide, or even much larger (7 cm long, 2.5 cm wide) and rhombic-oblanceolate. A distinctive feature is that one side of the leaf base decurrent onto the petiole about 3 mm further than the other side. The leaves are thin and pellucid when dry, 5-nerved with a more or less branched midrib. The short petiole is barely 5 mm long. The terminal spikes are 60 mm long and 1 mm thick, with loosely arranged flowers in whorls, and are borne on a 1 cm peduncle that is puberulous like the rachis. The ovary is ovoid with a subapical stigma.[4]
Taxonomy and naming
It was described in 1936 by William Trelease in Publications of the Field Museum of Natural History, Botanical Series 13, from specimens collected by James Francis Macbride.[5]
The epithet is derived from the Latin meaning "unequal-sided," referring to the distinctive asymmetrical leaf base where one side decurrent further than the other.[4]
Distribution and habitat
It is native to Peru.[2] It grows as a terrestrial or epiphytic herb.[1] It grows on wet tropical biomes.[1]
Conservation
This species is assessed as Threatened, in a preliminary report.[3]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Peperomia inaequilatera Trel". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
- 1 2 "Peperomia inaequilatera Trel". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
- 1 2 Bachman, Steven P.; Brown, Matilda J. M.; Leão, Tarciso C. C.; Lughadha, Eimear Nic; Walker, Barnaby E. (2024). "Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation". New Phytologist. 242 (2): 797–808. doi:10.1111/nph.19592. PMID 38437880.
- 1 2 3 Trelease, William. "Publications of the Field Museum of Natural History, Botanical Series 13(2): 58. 1936". Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Bot. Ser. 13(2): 58.
- ↑ "Peperomia inaequilatera Trel". Tropicos. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
