165 
PEPEROMIA ovALIFOLIs. 
~ Oval-leaved Peperoma. 
DIANDRIA MONOGYNIA.—Nar. Orv. PIPERACE. 
Grn. Cuar.—Spadix cylindraceus, floribus undique tectus. Stamina duo. 
Stigma indivisum. Bacca monosperma. Caulis herbaceus.—Humb. et 
Kunth. , 
Peperomia ovalifolia ; caule repente tereti pubescente, foliis breviter 
petiolatis, oppositis terniis quaternisque ovalibus retusis nervosis 
punctulatis vix pubescentibus, spicis terminalibus solitariis vel ag- 
gregatis longis curvatis. | 
Stem creeping, 8-10 inches in length, terete, pubescent, slightly branched, 
throwing out roots from beneath the point of insertion of the leaves. 
Leaves distant upon the stem, opposite, or more usually ternate, some- 
times quaternate, borne upon short pubescent petioles, oval, retuse, 
thick and fleshy, 3-nerved, scarcely pubescent, but ciliated at the mar- 
gin, minutely dotted on the surface. Spike 3-5 inches long, cylindrical, 
tapering, slender, upon footstalks, which are about 2 inches in length, 
terminal, solitary, 3-4 together. Flowers minute, compact. Scale sub= 
quadrate, peltate. Germen ovate, tapering upwards. Stigma depressed. 
Anthers 2, yellow. Fruit a 1-seeded, spherical berry, acuminated at 
_ the extremity. — 
This, as far as I can judge from descriptions, is another new 
species of Peperomia, communicated to me from the Island of 
St Vincent’s by my excellent and valuable correspondent, the 
Reverend L. Guitprnc. It seems a well marked species, 
and constant in its character of having oval retuse leaves in all 
the specimens which I have received, both dried and in spirits. 
Fig. 1. Leaf. Fig. 2. Flowers. Fig. 3. Berry. Fig. 4. Berry cut open, 
to shew the seed, and the situation of the Embryo at the top of the co- 
pious albumen.—-All more or less magnified. 
VOL. Iii. 
