Peperomia montecristana
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| Peperomia montecristana | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Piperales |
| Family: | Piperaceae |
| Genus: | Peperomia |
| Species: | P. montecristana |
| Binomial name | |
| Peperomia montecristana | |
| Synonyms | |
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Peperomia montecristana is a species of epiphyte in the genus Peperomia that is endemic in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama.[1][2] It grows on wet tropical biomes.[1] Its conservation status is Not Threatened.[3]
The type specimen was collected in Finca Montecristo, Costa Rica at an altitude of 25 meters.[4]
Peperomia montecristana is a small, somewhat tufted herb that grows on trees. The stem is slender at 1 millimeter thick and loosely covered with long, woolly hairs. The leaves are alternate, either ovate or elliptic-ovate, with a bluntly pointed tip and a rounded base. They are rather small at 1.5 by 2 to 2 by 4 centimeters, with 5 nerves. The leaves have pressed-down hairs, especially on the paler lower side, and dry to a green, membranous texture. The petiole is short at 5 to 10 millimeters long. The spikes are terminal, measuring 1 by 30 to 50 millimeters, with loosely spaced flowers. The peduncle is scarcely 5 millimeters long and covered with woolly, straight hairs. The floral bracts are round and shield-shaped (peltate), thin and large. The ovary is immersed, ovoid, and has a small shield-like structure called a scutulum. The stigma is positioned at the front on the scutulum.[4]
Taxonomy and naming
It was described in 1929 by William Trelease in Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 6.[5] The epithet montecristana refers to where the type specimen was collected.[4]