Refugium Botanicum. | [ November, 1871. 
TAB. 302. 
Natural Order PreerRAcE®. 
Genus Prprrromt, R. & P. 
P. puservta (Baker). Breviter caulescens suberecta minute pube- 
rula foliis longe petiolatis paulo supra basin peltatis late ovatis 
acutis basi leviter cordatis carnosis modice crassis supra 
obscure viridibus subtus pallidis nervis 7 ex apice petioli 
radiantibus prope marginem evanescentibus, spicis gracillimis 
simplicibus longe pedunculatis, floribus confertis, bracteis pel- 
tatis, ovarus obovoideis sessilibus stigmate parvo sessili sub- 
centrali capitellatis. 
Imported from Vera Paz with Orchids. 
Shortly caulescent, suberect, the whole plant rather densely 
puberulent. Petioles ascending, two to three inches long, inserted 
a little above the base of the leaf. Leaves broad-ovate, acute, 
slightly cordate-emarginate at the base, moderately fleshy, dull 
green on the upper surface, whitish and laxly cellular beneath ; 
seven veins, three on each side of the midrib radiating from the 
insertion of the petiole, remaining distinct nearly to the edge. 
Peduncles erect, nearly as long as the petioles. Spike very 
slender, simple, reaching threé to four inches long. Flowers 
minute, very tightly packed. Bract peltate, with a central pedicel 
nearly as long as the depth of the ovary. Ovary obovoid, sessile, 
with a subcentral capitellate sessile stigma. 
Closely allied to the well-known P. arifolia and to P. Saun- 
dersii, C. D.C., and P. hydrocotyloides, Miquel, Linnea, xx. t. 1, 
fig. 1, but a much less handsome species, easily distinguished 
from them by its pubescent leaves and stems. 
Tas. 802.—1, portion of spike; 2, flower viewed from above; 
8, pistil and four stamens; 4, pistil and peltate bract: all magnified. 
—J. G. B. 
This undescribed species of Peperomia I obtained by mere 
chance, it springing up at the base of an Orchid I obtained of Mr. 
Hague, and sent from Vera Paz. It grows freely in a moderately 
warm but damp stove, and a light turfy soil, or moss and decaying 
vegetable matter combined, suits it well.— W. W. S. 
