Peperomia topoensis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Peperomia topoensis | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Piperales |
| Family: | Piperaceae |
| Genus: | Peperomia |
| Species: | P. topoensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Peperomia topoensis | |
Peperomia topoensis is a species of epiphyte in the genus Peperomia that is endemic in Ecuador.[1][2] It primarily grows on wet tropical biomes.[1] Its conservation status is Threatened.[3]
The first specimens where collected in Napo, Ecuador at an altitude of 1158–1675 meters.[4]
Peperomia topoensis is a moderately small, glabrous, assurgent, and epiphytic herb. Its stems are 2 mm thick that ascends up to 15 cm or more from a decumbent rooting base. It is lavender when growing. Its internodes are mostly 1–3 cm long. Its leaves are fleshy, alternate, elliptic-ovate, that is 2-2.5 cm wide and 3–4 cm long. Its apex gradually acuminates. Its leaves are rounded, cordulate, and 7-plinerved. The innermost pair of lateral nerves coalesces with the midrib within the lowermost 5 mm. It is ciliolate near the tip, deep green above, dull purplish with a pale green nerves when growing. When is subcoriaceous and translucent when it's drying. Its petiole is 1-1.5 cm long clasping-decurrent. Its spikes at the tip are 2 mm thick and 4 cm or more long. Its peduncle is about 1 cm long. Its bracts are round. It has an ovoid ovary with an oblique tip. Its stigma is near to the tip.[4]
The glabrous stems and ovate, cordulate, 7-plinerved leaves are the distinctive characteristics of P. topoensis.[4]
Taxonomy and Naming
It was described in 1950 by Truman G. Yuncker in The Piperaceae of northern South America, from specimens collected by Julian Alfred Steyermark in 1943.[5] It got its name from the location where its first specimens were collected, which was along the Rio Pastaze, between Rio Topo, at Topo.[5]