Piper wachenheimii
Content
Description
Small shrub or even small treelet, to 1.5 m tall, nodose in lower part. Stem densely pubescent or hirsute, hairs often reddish brown (to 0.7 mm long). Petiole 0.3-0.5 cm long, densely pubescent or hirsute, vaginate at base; blade not scabrous, glandular-dotted, lance-elliptic to oblanceolate, 12-15 x 3.5-5 cm, apex acuminate, base equal or almost equally attached to petiole, acute or cuneate, glabrous above, erect-pubescent below, more so on veins; pinnately veined, secondary veins 4-5 per side, originating from lower 2/3 of primary vein, not anastomosing, plane to impressed above, prominulous or prominent below, tertiary veins reticulate. Inflorescence erect; peduncle to 0.5 cm long, crisp-pubescent; spike to 8(-12?) cm long, reddish, pinkish or brownish, apiculate; rachis glabrous; floral bracts densely marginally fringed. Fruits depressed globose or obovoid, ca. 1 mm thick, pubescent or hirtellous, separate from each other, stigmas 3, sessile.
Distribution
Guianas present, Southern America: Brazil North (ParĂ¡ present)
Brazil (ParĂ¡) and the Guianas; ca. 58 collections studied (GU: 13; SU: 10; FG: 35).
Notes
Recognisable by the symmetrical, acute leaf base and the erect pubescence on the lower leaf surface and veins. The plants have a strong peppery smell (according to T. van Andel, pers. comm.).
The collection French Guiana, Wachenheim 168 in Paris bears a type label. Although Trelease mentioned this collection together with Sandwith 231 in his protologue, he designated the latter as the type. The Paris collection thus is a paratype.
The Sagot 844 specimens in NY and P belong to Piper wachenheimii, this in contrast to the B specimen on which C. de Candolle based his P. rubescens; see also note to P. demeraranum.
The collection French Guiana, Wachenheim 168 in Paris bears a type label. Although Trelease mentioned this collection together with Sandwith 231 in his protologue, he designated the latter as the type. The Paris collection thus is a paratype.
The Sagot 844 specimens in NY and P belong to Piper wachenheimii, this in contrast to the B specimen on which C. de Candolle based his P. rubescens; see also note to P. demeraranum.