Peperomia blanda (Jacq.) Kunth

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Nativa en Colombia; Alt. 900 - 2985 m.; Andes.

Morphology General Habit

Hierba, epífita

Conservation

Preocupación Menor

Piperaceae, M.A. Diniz. Flora Zambesiaca 9:2. 1997

Morphology General Habit

An erect succulent rhizomatous herb, up to 50 cm tall (including the inflorescence).Stems decumbent, rooting at the lower nodes, simple or few-branched, densely pubescent or ± glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, the lowermost smaller and sometimes alternate, the upper ones at the base of inflorescence spikes 3–4-whorled, thinly succulent when fresh, drying rather membranous; petiole (4)7–15(23) mm long, pubescent or glabrescent; lamina (1.5)2.0–5.0(6.3) x (1.0)1.3–2.5(3.0) cm, broadly elliptic, ovate or obovate-oblong, rounded to obtuse or acute at the apex, cuneate at the base, pubescent to subglabrous on both surfaces, ciliate on the margin, sometimes obscurely pellucid-punctate more conspicuous on the lower surface, 3–5-palmatinerved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences spicate; spikes terminal or axillary, greenish, 2–5 clustered, rarely solitary; rhachis (4.5)5.5–9.3(11) cm long, glabrous; peduncle (0.8)1.2–1.7(2.3) cm long, pubescent or subglabrous;flowers lax.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary ovoid, glabrous; stigma terminal, oblique.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit 0.7–0.9 mm long, globose-ovoid, densely covered with viscous shortly cylindrical papillae. Pseudopedicels present or absent.

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Andean. Elevation range: 900–2985 m a.s.l. Native to Colombia. Colombian departments: Antioquia, Bogotá DC, Boyacá, Caldas, Cauca, Cesar, Cundinamarca, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Quindío, Santander, Valle del Cauca.

Habit

Herb, Epiphyte.

Conservation

National Red List of Colombia (2021): Potential LC.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, artificial - terrestrial.

Piperaceae, Bernard Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1996

Morphology General Habit

Erect succulent rhizomatous plant, 10–50(–60) cm. tall, sometimes epiphytic; stems brownish to pink or red, ± terete, rather fleshy towards the base.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves in whorls of 3 (4–8 in a South American variety) or opposite, thin and soft, green above with venation paler, uniformly dark green beneath or in lower leaves sometimes reddish; blade broadly elliptic to obovate, 1–6.5(–8) cm. long, 0.7–3.5(–4.2) cm. wide, broadly acute or sometimes shortly acuminate at the apex, broadly cuneate to rounded at the base, palmately 3(–5)-nerved, the midnerve also pinnately divided above, the veins slightly impressed above and raised beneath, finely pubescent on both surfaces; petiole pink or green, 0.2–1.7 cm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, grooved, hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Spikes green, 2–5(–8), terminal and in upper axils forming leafy panicles; individual spikes 0.8–10 cm. long, 1–2 mm. wide; peduncle pink, 0.4–2(–3.2) cm. long; flowers lax; floral bracts rounded or oblong-ovate, peltate, 0.4–0.8 mm. long, 0.3–0.5 mm. wide, glandular punctate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits broadly ellipsoid, 0.8–1(–1.2) mm. long, 0.5–0.6 mm. wide, obscurely to ± distinctly papillate; style-cap broad and low; short conical pseudopedicels sometimes present when fully ripe.

Habitat

Bare but often shady rocky places, e.g. granite outcrops, inselbergs, gullies, evergreen scrub and ‘dry forest’, also margin of standing water and springs, often with Aloe and Aeollanthus, or in riverine thicket, rarely an epiphyte, e.g. on Diospyros; 250–1800 m.

Distribution

K4 K5 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T6 T7 U2 U3 from Yemen to South Africa west to Zaire, Madagascar, Mascarene Is., India, Burma, Indo-china, Taiwan, Malesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, New Caledonia and Australia, also U.S.A. (Florida) to S. South America (see note)