Peperomia obtusifolia
Sp. Pl. 1: 154. 1831.
Herbs, perennial, rhizomatous, erect, decumbent, reclining, or somewhat scandent, simple or sparsely branched, 8-40 cm, mostly glabrous, without black, glandular dots. Leaves alternate; petiole 1/5-1/2, mostly ca. 1/3, length of blade, glabrous. Leaf-blade highly variable in size and shape, prominently to obscurely pinnately veined, elliptic, broadly elliptic, or spatulate to ovate, obovate, or very broadly ovate or broadly obovate, 2.2-13 × 1.5-5.5 cm, lateral-veins arching-ascending, originating from base to about middle of blade, base attenuate, mostly narrowly to broadly cuneate, rarely slightly acuminate, apex obtuse, rounded, retuse, or notched; surfaces mostly glabrous. Spikes mostly terminal, 1-2, densely flowered, 5.5-23 cm; peduncle with microscopic, spiculelike hairs, mature fruiting spikes 3.5-5.5 mm diam. Fruits sessile, ellipsoid, both ends rounded, 0.8-1.1 × 0.4-0.5 mm, faintly longitudinally striate; beak elongate, 0.5-0.7 mm, filiform above narrowly to broadly conic base, straight or S-shaped, abruptly hooked near apex.
Phenology: Flowering all year.
Habitat: Hummocks, epiphytic or terrestrial on rotten logs and humus
Elevation: 0-20 m
Distribution
Fla., Mexico, West Indies, n South America
Discussion
Selected References
None.