FLORA OF JAMAICA 



Peperomia 



short style and terminal stigma or with an obliquely -placed 

 apical appendage (consisting of a shield-like base, with the stigma 

 subcentral), only slightly produced above the berry or elongated 

 into a beak ; sometimes smooth above with a viscid pseudocupule 

 round the lower half. 



Species over 600, widely distributed through the warmer 

 regions of the globe, but mainly in America, extending from 

 Florida and Mexico to Argentina and Chile. 



Fig. 1. — Pepei-omia. 



A, Shoot bearing flower-spikes of 

 P. pellucida Kunth. 



B, Portion of flower-spike of same. 



C, Fruit of same. 



D, Fniit of P. kispidida A. Dietr. 



E, Fruit of P. tenella A. Dietr. 



F, Fruit of P. obtusifolia A. Dietr. ; 

 s, stigma. 



G, Fruit of P. dendrophila Schlecli- 

 tend. 



H, Fruit of P. septemnervis Ruiz 

 & Pav. ; 2>, pseudocupule. 



I. Leaves alternate (occasionally opposite in P. rotundifolia and the 

 lower leaves of P. alpina). 



A. Leaves not more than 2 • 5 cm. (1 inch) long. 



1. Leaves roundish or elliptical or obovate. 



Leaves with a few white hairs on upper 



surface. Spikes filiform 1. P. hispidula. 



Leaves hispid on both sides. Spikes 



fleshy 17. P. rotundifolia. 



Leaves puberulous on both sides. Spikes 



fleshy 38. P. Fawcettii. 



Leaves obcordate, puberulous on upper 



surface 18. P. cordifolia. 



Leaves minute, 3-4 mm. 1., generally 



with a few hairs on both surfaces 



and margin. Spikes fleshy 4:. P. emarginella. 



2. Leaves lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate 3. P. tenella. 



3. Leaves deltoid or deltoid-roundish. 



Spikes not fleshy, lax-flowered 2. P. pellucida. 



Spikes fleshy, dense-flowered 16. P. serpens. 



B. Leaves more than 2-5 cm. long. 



1. Leaves thick and fleshy, broadest above 



middle, obovate to oblanceolate, blade 



more or less decurrent into petiole. 



Spike (in fr.) with acuminate pits of 



which edges form a woody network ; 



bracts '5-1 mm. br., 2-4 visible 



about same level, distant; beak of 



berry curved but not hooked, stout, 



as long as berry. 



