Peperomia leptostachya Hook. & Arn.

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Great Enclosure, Great Zimbabwe

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Synonyms:	Peperomia arabica Decne. ex Miq. Peperomia bequaertii De Wild. Peperomia blanda (Jacq.) Kunth var. leptostachya (Hook. & Arn.) Duell Peperomia brachytrichoides Engl. Peperomia kyimbilana C.DC.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Erect perennial epiphytic or lithophytic herb. Stems sometimes decumbent, up to 50 cm long, rooting at the lower nodes, more or less pubescent. Leaves opposite, sometimes alternate near the base or whorled below the inflorescence, broadly elliptic, ovate or obovate-oblong, up to 5 mm long, fleshy when fresh, more or less pubescent on both surfaces; margin entire but ciliate; petiole 5-15 mm long, pubescent. Inflorescence in terminal or lateral 2-5-clustered spikes, greenish, 4-10 cm long. Fruit globose-ovoid, 0.7-0.9 mm long, covered in sticky papillae.
Notes:	Peperomia blanda under which this species previously was considered a variety is now a strictly South American taxon.
Derivation of specific name:	leptostachya: with slender spikes (Greek).
Habitat:	Riverine and evergreen forest or mist-belt woodland.
Altitude range:	Up to 2200 m
Flowering time:	Jan - Mar
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread From DRC and East Africa to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Also in Madagascar, Mascarene Islands, Yemen, Tropical Asia, Taiwan, Micronesia, Polynesia, Australia and Hawaii.
Malawi distribution:	S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Diniz, M.A. (1996). Piperaceae of the Flora Zambesiaca area Kirkia 16(1) Pages 75 - 76. Diniz, M.A. (1997). Piperaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(2) Pages 30 - 32. (Includes a picture). Fabian, A. & Germishuizen, G. (1997). Wild Flowers of Northern South Africa. Fernwood Press, Vlaeburg. Pages 120 - 121. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 67. Mathieu, G. (2001-2010). The Internet Peperomia Reference Published on the internet: http://www.peperomia.net/ Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 83. Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 524 - 525. (Includes a picture). Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 143.

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Flora of Mozambique: Peperomia leptostachya
Flora of Zambia: Peperomia leptostachya
Flora of Zimbabwe: Peperomia leptostachya

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Peperomia leptostachya
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Peperomia leptostachya
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Peperomia leptostachya
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Peperomia leptostachya
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iNaturalist: Peperomia leptostachya
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Peperomia leptostachya
JSTOR Plant Science: Peperomia leptostachya
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Peperomia leptostachya
Plants of the World Online: Peperomia leptostachya
Tropicos: Peperomia leptostachya
Wikipedia: Peperomia leptostachya