Piper aequale

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Piper aequale

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<<Inflorescences>Peduncle>Length

1-1.5 cm long1
1. 004-002-001

<<Inflorescences>Spikes>Length

to 10 cm long2
2. 004-003-001

<<Infructescences>Fruits>Diameter

0.7-1(-3) mm in diam.3
3. 005-001-001

<<Infructescences>Fruits>Stigma

stigmas 3, sessile.4
4. 005-001-002

<<Petiole>Blade>Apex

apex acuminate,5
5. 003-002-004

<<Petiole>Blade>Base

base equally attached to petiole, acute, cuneate or obtuse, may be truncate or subcordate on sterile branches;6
6. 003-002-005

<<Petiole>Blade>Dimensions

12-23 x 3.5-9(-11) cm7
7. 003-002-003

<<Petiole>Blade>Shape

lanceolate to lance-elliptic or elliptic-ovate, broadly ovate on sterile branches, often asymmetrical: with one side wider in the lower half8
8. 003-002-002

<<Petiole>Blade>Texture

membranous or subcoriaceous9
9. 003-002-001

<Habit>Height

1-4 m tall10
10. 001-001

<Inflorescences>Floral bracts

floral bracts marginally fringed.11
11. 004-006

<Inflorescences>Flowers

flowers densely crowded;12
12. 004-005

<Inflorescences>Growth form

erect13
13. 004-001

<Inflorescences>Peduncle

peduncle slender, ;14
14. 004-002

<Inflorescences>Rachises

rachis glabrous;15
15. 004-004

<Inflorescences>Spikes

spike , white or green, apiculate or not;16
16. 004-003

<Infructescences>Fruits

fruits oblongoid to trigonous, , brownish green, glabrous,17
17. 005-001

<Petiole>Blade

blade , not conspicuously glandular-dotted, shiny green above, pale below, often drying yellowish green, , ,18
18. 003-002

<Petiole>Length

1-1.5(-4) cm long19
19. 003-001

<Petiole>Veins

pinnately veined, secondary veins 4-6 per side, originating at a steep angle from 3/4 or more of primary vein, 2-3 lower ones from near base, slightly prominulous on both sides, often pale or yellow, tertiary venation inconspicuously reticulate, with some more prominent ones transverse.20
20. 003-003

<Prophyllum>Length

10-15 mm long21
21. 002-001

Common Name

English (French Guiana): tona tona keng, tumowato, yakamileni piã, yalitakuã sili

Description

Shrub or treelet, 1-4 m tall, glabrous. Prophyll 10-15 mm long, slender, acute. Petiole slender, 1-1.5(-4) cm long, vaginate only at base; blade membranous or subcoriaceous, not conspicuously glandular-dotted, shiny green above, pale below, often drying yellowish green, lanceolate to lance-elliptic or elliptic-ovate, broadly ovate on sterile branches, often asymmetrical: with one side wider in the lower half, 12-23 x 3.5-9(-11) cm, apex acuminate, base equally attached to petiole, acute, cuneate or obtuse, may be truncate or subcordate on sterile branches; pinnately veined, secondary veins 4-6 per side, originating at a steep angle from 3/4 or more of primary vein, 2-3 lower ones from near base, slightly prominulous on both sides, often pale or yellow, tertiary venation inconspicuously reticulate, with some more prominent ones transverse. Inflorescence erect; peduncle slender, 1-1.5 cm long; spike to 10 cm long, white or green, apiculate or not; rachis glabrous; flowers densely crowded; floral bracts marginally fringed. Infructescence (grey-)green; fruits oblongoid to trigonous, 0.7-1(-3) mm in diam., brownish green, glabrous, stigmas 3, sessile.

Distribution

C and S America present, Southern America
West Indies, C and S America; over 100 collections studied (GU: 26; SU: 30; FG: 49).

Habit

Shrub or treelet, , glabrous.22
22. 001

Individuals Association

Suriname, Tumac Humac Range, Inselberg Telouakem, de Granville et al. 12121 Suriname, Wilhelmina Mts., Juliana Top, Irwin et al. 54610 Guyana, Barima-Mazaruni region, Pipoly 8291 Guyana, Mt. Iramaikpang, NW slope Kanuku Mts., A.C. Smith 3677 foot Mt. Galbao, de Granville et al. 8399 Saül area, Görts-van Rijn 54

Inflorescences

Inflorescence ;23
23. 004

Infructescences

Infructescence (grey-)green;24
24. 005

Notes

This glabrous species is characterized by the equal leaf base and slender petiole, but usually distinctly asymmetrical lower half of blade; the leaves dry yellowish green.
Unlike Steyermark (1984: 312), I do not accept varieties, knowing how variable the shape of the leaves can be even on the same plant.

Petiole

Petiole slender, , vaginate only at base;25
25. 003

Prophyllum

Prophyll , slender, acute.26
26. 002