Peperomia urocarpa
Content
Description
Epiphytic or epilithic herb. Stem rooting at nodes, ascending, crisp-pubescent, glabrescent. Leaves alternate; petiole 1.5-4.5 cm long, crisp-pubescent; blade pale glandular-dotted, deltoid, ovate to broadly ovate, 2-3 x 2.7-7 cm, margin ciliolate towards apex, apex acute to obtuse, base truncate to subcordate, occasionally obtuse, pubescent or villous on both sides, glabrescent; palmately 5-7-veined. Inflorescence solitary, simple, terminal; peduncle 2-4 cm long, crisp-pubescent, 1-2 bracteate; spike 1.5-5 cm long, about as long as peduncle; floral bracts rounded, with scariose margin. Fruits brown, ellipsoid with distinct beak, stigma at base of beak.
Distribution
Guyana present, Southern America: Colombia (Colombia present); Ecuador (Ecuador present); Venezuela (Venezuela present), Suriname present
West Indies, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Ecuador and Brazil; 13 collections studied (GU: 7; SU: 4; FG: 2).
Notes
The collection Pakaraima Mts., NW side Mt. Ayanganna, Cuyuni-Mazaruni region, 1100-1200 m elev., Hoffman 3252 (U) seems to belong to Peperomia urocarpa and not — as has been suggested — to P. manarae Steyerm. It is a rather glabrous specimen, but bears the typical beaked fruit as in P. urocarpa. Peperomia manarae is known only from the Cordillera Costanea in the Aragua province in Venezuela.
Because of the often deltoid leaves, P. pellucida and P. urocarpa could be confused. P. urocarpa, however, has longer leaf blades (2.7-7 cm instead of 1-3.7(-5) cm in P. pellucida) and longer petioles (1.5-4.5 cm instead of 0.3-2.5 cm in P. pellucida). Fruits in P. urocarpa are ellipsoid with a distinct beak, whereas in P. pellucida fruits are globose with apical stigma, sometimes a short style has been developed.
Because of the often deltoid leaves, P. pellucida and P. urocarpa could be confused. P. urocarpa, however, has longer leaf blades (2.7-7 cm instead of 1-3.7(-5) cm in P. pellucida) and longer petioles (1.5-4.5 cm instead of 0.3-2.5 cm in P. pellucida). Fruits in P. urocarpa are ellipsoid with a distinct beak, whereas in P. pellucida fruits are globose with apical stigma, sometimes a short style has been developed.