Peperomia elegantifolia
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| Peperomia elegantifolia | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Piperales |
| Family: | Piperaceae |
| Genus: | Peperomia |
| Species: | P. elegantifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Peperomia elegantifolia | |
Peperomia elegantifolia is a species of epiphyte in the genus Peperomia that is endemic in Peru.[1][2] It grows on wet tropical biomes.[1] Its conservation status is Threatened.[3]
The type specimen were collected near San Roque, Peru, at an altitude of 1,350–1,500 meters (4,430–4,920 ft).[4]
Peperomia elegantifolia is a medium-sized, glabrous, forest-dwelling herb. The alternate leaves are lanceolate to typically lanceolate-obovate, somewhat acute, with a cuneate base, measuring 9–10 cm (3.5–3.9 in) long and 3–4.5 cm (1.2–1.8 in) wide. They are pinnately nerved from the lower half. The petiole is barely 1 cm long. The spikes are borne in pairs in the axils on slender peduncles. The branching structure is complex: a main peduncle about 3 cm long may bear the spikes, or a longer peduncle may terminate in a reduced leaf and then the spikes. The ultimate peduncles bearing the spikes are 5–10 mm long.[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 Llewelyn Williams.[5] It got its epithet from the Latin wikt:elegans + wikt:folia, referring to the plant's elegant foliage.[4]