Piper peltatum

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Piper peltatum

Content

<<<Inflorescences>Common peduncle>Peduncle>Length

1-1.5 cm long1
1. 004-003-002-001

<<Inflorescences>Common peduncle>Length

2-8 cm long2
2. 004-003-001

<<Inflorescences>Common peduncle>Peduncle

peduncles slender, ;3
3. 004-003-002

<<Inflorescences>Spikes>Length

5-10 cm long4
4. 004-004-001

<<Leaves>Blade>Apex

apex acute,5
5. 003-002-003

<<Leaves>Blade>Base

base nearly rounded to usually deeply cordate, glabrous except for short hairs on veins;6
6. 003-002-004

<<Leaves>Blade>Dimensions

to 16-30 x 18-40 cm7
7. 003-002-002

<<Leaves>Blade>Shape

round-ovate8
8. 003-002-001

<<Leaves>Petiole>Length

8-20 cm long9
9. 003-001-001

<Habit>Height

to 3 m tall10
10. 001-001

<Inflorescences>Common peduncle

common peduncle ,11
11. 004-003

<Inflorescences>Floral bracts

floral bracts marginally fringed.12
12. 004-005

<Inflorescences>Growth form

erect13
13. 004-001

<Inflorescences>Position

seem to be axillary, but are reduced14
14. 004-002

<Inflorescences>Spikes

spikes numerous, , each subtended by a single prophyll, densely flowered;15
15. 004-004

<Leaves>Blade

blade glandular-dotted, , ,16
16. 003-002

<Leaves>Petiole

petiole attached at up to 1/3 of blade, rarely near base, , vaginate or slightly winged in lower part;17
17. 003-001

<Leaves>Veins

palmately 13-15-veined, veins radiating from petiole tip, and 2 pairs originating from central vein.18
18. 003-003

Common Name

English (Guyana): cow foot leaf, popo sakara

Description

Large herb to 3 m tall. Internodes black glandular-dotted, more densely so on nodes. Leaves alternate, peltate; petiole attached at up to 1/3 of blade, rarely near base, 8-20 cm long, vaginate or slightly winged in lower part; blade glandular-dotted, round-ovate, to 16-30 x 18-40 cm, apex acute, base nearly rounded to usually deeply cordate, glabrous except for short hairs on veins; palmately 13-15-veined, veins radiating from petiole tip, and 2 pairs originating from central vein. Inflorescence erect, umbellate, seem to be axillary, but are reduced, sympodial branches with very short internodes, without leaves; common peduncle 2-8 cm long, peduncles slender, 1-1.5 cm long; spikes numerous, 5-10 cm long, each subtended by a single prophyll, densely flowered; floral bracts marginally fringed. Fruits trigonous, glabrous.

Distribution

tropical S America present
Widely distributed in tropical S America; ca. 60 collections studied (GU: 25; SU: 13; FG: 25).

Fruits

Fruits trigonous, glabrous.19
19. 005

Habit

Large herb .20
20. 001

Individuals Association

Inini R., De Granville et al. 7303 Suriname, Wilhelmina Mts., LBB 16263 Guyana, Ithaca, Berbice R., Grewal 289 Saül, Görts-van Rijn et al. 67 Suriname, Wilhelmina Mts., S slope Juliana peak, Irwin et al. 54650 Guyana, Rupununi Distr., Kanuku Mts., Jansen-Jacobs et al. 2236

Inflorescences

Inflorescence , umbellate, , sympodial branches with very short internodes, without leaves;21
21. 004

Internodes

Internodes black glandular-dotted, more densely so on nodes.22
22. 002

Leaves

Leaves alternate, peltate;23
23. 003

Notes

There has been quite a discussion on the correct name of the taxon. I agree with R. Callejas that the taxon can best be placed in Piper, not separated as Lepianthes or Pothomorphe. Piper peltatum together with P. marginatum, P. umbellatum L. and several other extra-Guianan taxa form a distinct clade within Piper (Jaramillo & Manos, Amer. J. Bot. 88: 712. 2001). They do not form a monophyletic group and should not be separated from Piper.

Uses

As a fish-poison, for that purpose cultivated (in Guyana, NW Distr., according to Archer).