Peperomia enervis is a plant in the pepper family Piperaceae found only in rainforests of northeast Queensland near the cities of Cairns and Mackay. It was first described in 1891.
| Peperomia enervis | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Piperales |
| Family: | Piperaceae |
| Genus: | Peperomia |
| Species: | P. enervis
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| Binomial name | |
| Peperomia enervis | |
| Synonyms[4] | |
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Description
editPeperomia enervis is a small succulent herb up to 30 cm (12 in) high. The stems are initially erect but after a time will lay down and produce roots from the nodes. The small glabrous leaves measure about 15 mm (0.59 in) long by 8 mm (0.31 in) wide, and are arranged either in opposite pairs or in whorls of three. They are carried on petioles about 1–4 mm (0.04–0.16 in) long, and the secondary venation is obscure.[5][6][7]
The flowers are minute, measuring less than 1 mm (0.04 in) across, and are borne on terminal spikes about 5 cm (2.0 in) long. They are sunken into the axis of the inflorescence and lack both petals and sepals. The stigma is borne obliquely on the ovary and there are two stamens, one either side of the ovary. The fruit is, in botanical terms, a berry about 1 mm (0.04 in) diameter, dark brown in colour and containing a single seed.[5][6][7]
Phenology
editFlowering occurs between January and May, and fruits ripen from April to July.[6]
Taxonomy
editThis species was first described by the botanists Ferdinand von Mueller and Casimir de Candolle in a paper titled Descriptions of new Australian plants, with occasional other annotations, and published in the journal The Victorian Naturalist in 1891.[8]
Etymology
editThe genus name Peperomia comes from the Ancient Greek words piperi "pepper", and homós "same", referring to its close relationship to the pepper genus Piper. The species epithet enervis means "without veins", a reference to the obscure venation of the leaves.[7]
Distribution and habitat
editPeperomia enervis is found in two disjunct populations in Queensland - the larger one is within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area near Cairns, and a smaller one in and around the Eungella National Park, west of Mackay.[9][10] It grows on tree trunks and moss covered rocks in high altitude rainforest to about 1,200 m (3,900 ft).
Conservation
editThis species is listed as least concern under the Queensland Government's Nature Conservation Act.[1] As of 22 April 2024[update], it has not been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Gallery
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References
edit- ^ a b "Species profile—Peperomia enervis". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Peperomia enervis". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ Hassler, Michael. "Peperomia enervis F. Muell". World Plants, Version 19.2. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "APC Format - Peperomia enervis". Australian Plant Census. Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ a b F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Peperomia enervis". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ a b c Forster, P.I. (2022). "Peperomia enervis". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ a b c Cooper, Wendy; Cooper, William T. (June 2004). Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia: Nokomis Editions. p. 397. ISBN 978-0958174213.
- ^ Candolle, ifadfoiadf; Mueller, Ferdinand von (1891). "Descriptions of new Australian plants, with occasional other annotations". Victorian Naturalist. 8 (7): 109. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Search: species: Peperomia enervis | Occurrence records". Australasian Virtual Herbarium. Australian Government. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Peperomia enervis". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
External links
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- View a map of herbarium collections of this species at the Australasian Virtual Herbarium
- View observations of this species on iNaturalist
- View images of this species on Flickriver.com