Peperomia polymorpha
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Peperomia polymorpha | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Piperales |
| Family: | Piperaceae |
| Genus: | Peperomia |
| Species: | P. polymorpha |
| Binomial name | |
| Peperomia polymorpha | |
Peperomia polymorpha 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 Urubamba Valley, Peru at an altitude of 3000 meters above sea level.[4]
Peperomia polymorpha is a small, rhizomatous-erect, tree-dwelling herb with a slender stem covered in crisp pubescence. The alternate leaves are round-obovate to elliptic, obtuse, with an acute base, measuring 6–8 mm long and 3–6 mm wide. They are crisp-pubescent above when young and obscurely 3-nerved. The glabrous petiole is about 3 mm long. The terminal spikes are 30 mm long, with a very short, glabrous peduncle. The floral bracts are relatively large 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 Fortunato L. Herrera.[5]
The epithet is derived from the Greek poly and morphē, meaning "many forms," referring to the variable leaf morphology within the species.[4]