Piper cernuum
Content
Description
Shrub or treelet, 2-6 m tall. Stem densely pubescent. Petiole vaginate to apex, 4-9 cm long, densely pubescent; blade not scabrous, not glandular-dotted, broadly ovate to elliptic-ovate, 23-60 x 14-28 cm, apex acute, base equal or almost equally attached to petiole, deeply unequally lobed, glabrous or sparsely pubescent above, veins glabrescent above, densely pubescent below; pinnately veined, secondary veins 5-8 per side, originating from lower 3/4 or more of primary vein, flat above and prominulous below, tertiary veins widely reticulate or sometimes transverse. Inflorescence pendent; peduncle 1-3(-5) cm long, densely pubescent; spike 20-60 cm long, yellow, not apiculate; rachis glabrous; floral bracts marginally fringed; stamens laterally dehiscent. Fruits obovoid, ca. 2-2.5 mm wide, puberulent at apex, stigmas 3, sessile, to 8 mm long.
Distribution
French Guiana present, Guyana present, Southern America: Colombia (Colombia present); Peru (Peru present); Venezuela (Venezuela present)
Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, Guyana and French Guiana; 10 collections studied (GU: 3; FG: 5).
Notes
Steyermark (1984: 367-373) discerned several varieties and formas within Piper cernuum. With the small amount of Guianan specimens available it is impossible to distinguish different entities here.
Piper cernuum and P. obliquum are very similar morphologically. Distinguishing characters are mentioned in the note to P. obliquum.
Piper cernuum and P. obliquum are very similar morphologically. Distinguishing characters are mentioned in the note to P. obliquum.