Peperomia crotalophora

Peperomia crotalophora
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Piperales
Family: Piperaceae
Genus: Peperomia
Species:
P. crotalophora
Binomial name
Peperomia crotalophora
Synonyms
  • Peperomia semielongata Trel.

Peperomia crotalophora is a species of epiphyte in the genus Peperomia that is endemic in Colombia & Peru.[1][2] It grows on wet tropical biomes.[1] Its conservation status is Not Threatened.[3]

Description

The type specimen were collected near Hacienda Schunke, Peru at an altitude of 1200 meters.[4]

Peperomia crotalophora is a moderately tall, procumbent, glabrous herb that dries to a green color. The somewhat slender stem is 2–3 mm thick with elongated internodes. The alternate leaves are rounded-ovate to almost triangular-ovate, acute or occasionally obtuse or shortly acuminate, and medium-sized (5.5–6.5 cm long, 4.5 cm wide). They have multiple pinnate nerves: 4 basal nerves and 2 additional pairs arising from the lower quarter of the midrib. The petiole ranges from 3 cm to as long as 10 cm. The terminal spikes are solitary, terminating 2 cm long, single-bracteate peduncles. They are 50–70 mm long and 1 mm thick, with flowers tightly arranged in whorls. The whorls of large anthers are densely clustered and very conspicuous in the young state. The round-peltate bracts are obscure and arranged in pseudowhorls of about 12.[4]

Taxonomy and naming

It was described in 1936 by William Trelease in Publications of the Field Museum of Natural History, Botanical Series 13, from specimens collected by James Francis Macbride.[5] It got its epithet from the Greek wikt:krotalon + wikt:phoros, meaning "rattle-bearing", referring to the rattle-like appearance of the densely whorled flowers with their conspicuous anthers. [4]

Distribution and habitat

It is endemic in Colombia & Peru.[2] It grows on a epiphyte environment and is a herb.[1][4] It grows on wet tropical biomes.[1]

Conservation

This species is assessed as Not Threatened, in a preliminary report.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Peperomia crotalophora Trel". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  2. ^ a b "Peperomia crotalophora Trel". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  3. ^ a b Bachman, Steven P.; Brown, Matilda J. M.; Leão, Tarciso C. C.; Lughadha, Eimear Nic; Walker, Barnaby E. (2024). "Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation". New Phytologist. 242 (2): 797–808. doi:10.1111/nph.19592. PMID 38437880.
  4. ^ a b c d Trelease, William. "Publications of the Field Museum of Natural History, Botanical Series 13(357): 34. 1936". Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Bot. Ser. 13(357): 34.
  5. ^ "Peperomia crotalophora Trel". Tropicos. Retrieved 14 March 2026.