Geophilous Species of Peperomia . 4 1 1 
described by Kunth as being about the size of a pea, but in some examples 
with old tubers it is considerably larger. 
The closely allied P. gracillima , Wats. 1 is very similar to the last 
species, only rather more slender, and as there are no ripe fruits it is not 
possible to be certain whether it is merely a varietal form or a true species ; 
both plants are said to grow in damp places among rocks, and a greater or 
lesser degree of exposure would of course cause a considerable difference in 
the appearance of plants belonging to the same species. It seems probable 
that P. claytonioides , Kunth 2 from Guatemala, P. ovato-peltata 3 , C. DC. 
from Costa Rica, and P . pinulana 4 , C. DC. from Guatemala may also 
belong to this same group, but it is impossible to be certain of this from 
the literature of the subject. 
Rhxzomatous Forms. P. mexicana. 
Turning now to the other group of the Mexican species referred to at 
the commencement of the paper 5 , there are two or three forms with 
a more or less creeping rhizome whose seedlings have been found to be of 
the same character as those already described. The best known and most 
certainly defined species in this group is P. mexicana , Miq. 6 , which has also 
been described and figured under the name of P. Galeottiana by Hooker 7 . 
As the character of the underground portion is not well shown in this figure 
a fresh illustration is given of this species (Fig. 42, PI. XXX). 
P. mexicana occurs in the Cordillera of Vera Cruz ; it possesses a short 
tuberous rhizome bearing lateral protuberances, which give it the appearance 
of a compound tuber when viewed from below. Towards the stem-apex it 
narrows and bears a tuft of radical leaves and the roots appear to arise 
from this upper narrower portion. The fruit (cf. Dahlst., 1 . c., Fig. 12) is 
distinct from that of P. pedicellata since it is sessile and has a long style 
with a peltate stigmatic head (Fig. 43). The pericarp, however, is smooth 
as in P. pedicellata and there are only single gland-cells in the shallow 
pits. The fruit measures about *9 mm. long, exclusive of the style — which 
is about • 6 mm. — by about *3- *4 mm. broad, and it is linear-oblong in 
shape. 
1 Watson, Proc. Amer. Acad., xxii, p. 448, No. 585, Palmer, Jalisco, Mexico, in deep recesses 
of overhanging rocks. 
2 C. DC., Prod., XVI, i, p. 400 ; Dahlst., 1 . c., p. 33. M. de Candolle kindly informs me that 
in this species the roots emerge from the upper part of the tuber. 
3 C. DC., Seaman’s Journ. Bot., iv, p. 133, 1866; ib., Prod., XVI, i, p. 324; Dahlst., 1 . c., 
P- 34 * 
1 C. DC., Engl., Jahrb., x, p. 289, * radice reniformia Tuberosa.’ Hab. Pinula prope Xalapa alt. 
1,800 m. This species is considered to be a variety of P. claytonioides. 
6 Cf. p. 396. 
6 Miq., Syst, Pip., p. 75; Nov. Act. Nat Cur., p. 12, Taf. vi, 1846; Dahlst., 1 . c., p. 34, 
PI. I, Fig. 12. 
7 Hooker, leones, vol. iv, Tab. 327. 
