Peperomia megalepis
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| Peperomia megalepis | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Piperales |
| Family: | Piperaceae |
| Genus: | Peperomia |
| Species: | P. megalepis |
| Binomial name | |
| Peperomia megalepis | |
Peperomia megalepis 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]
The type specimen were collected at Muña, Peru at an altitude of 2400 meters above sea level.[4]
Peperomia megalepis is a moderately small, creeping then ascending, glabrous, tree-dwelling herb with a somewhat slender stem 2–3 mm thick and short internodes. The alternate leaves are rhombic-elliptic to obovate, somewhat acute, and small, measuring 1.5–3.5 cm long and 1–2 cm wide. When dry, they are opaque and 5-nerved. The petiole is 5–10 mm long. The terminal and axillary spikes are 70 mm long and 2 mm thick, with somewhat loosely arranged flowers, and are borne on a peduncle nearly 2 cm long. The floral bracts are notably large, about 1 mm wide, and round-peltate.[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 Greek megas (large) and lepis (scale), referring to the unusually large floral bracts that distinguish this species.[4]