Peperomia epipremnifolia D. Monteiro & Leitman 2016, sp. nov.

Peperomia epipremnifolia D. Monteiro & Leitman, sp. nov. (Fig. 2A–E and Fig. 3A–B) Glabrous, terrestrial and stoloniferous herb, with alternate, largely ovate leaves, pilose along its margin, with 3–5 pairs of secondary veins, reaching just below the median portion; spikes erect, equal or larger than the leaves, with a 2-bracteate peduncle; fruit elliptic-ovoid with oblique short-rostrate apex. Type:— BRAZIL. Bahia: Arataca, Parque Nacional de Serra das Lontras, trilha do Mormaço, próximo ao abrigo, 15º10’46”S 39º20’44”W, 417 m elev., 26 November 2011 (fl., fr.), D. Monteiro et al. 556 (holotype RB!, isotypes CEPEC!, NY!). Terrestrial herb, stoloniferous, reptant, glabrous; stems slightly reddish; internodes 5–12.5 cm long. Leaves alternate, discolorous, lustrous on adaxial surface, chartaceous; petiole 6–12(–18) cm long, slightly reddish; leaf blade 12–17 × 7–13 cm, ovate, apex acuminate, base rounded to slightly cordate, with yellow to brownish glands on both surfaces, margin densely pilose throughout, trichomes up to 0.5 mm long, venation pinnate, eucamptodromous, with 3–4 pairs of secondary veins reaching just below the median portion, sometimes with an additional pair near the middle, major lateral veins conspicuously sunken adaxially and paler than the blade, other veins inconspicuous. Spikes (9–) 11.5–22.5 cm × 1–2 mm, erect, solitary, greenish; peduncle 3–5 cm long; peduncular bracts 2, 1–1.5 × 0.3 cm, lanceolate; rachis densely flowered, glabrous, foveolate, smooth; floral bract ca. 0.3 mm diam., round, peltate, glabrous, with brownish glands; ovary elliptic, in a depression of the rachis. Fruits 0.5–1 mm long, elliptic-ovoid, slightly immersed in the rachis, with oblique, short-rostrate apex, and central stigma. Distribution and habitat:— Peperomia epipremnifolia occurs in humid montane forests fragments of southern Bahia (400–800 m elev.), in the municipalities of Almadina, Arataca, Barro Preto and Camacan (Fig. 1). It grows in shaded areas, terrestrially as well as epiphytic on lower parts of tree trunks. Phenology: — Peperomia epipremnifolia has been collected flowering and fruiting between May and July, and between November and January. Etymology:— The name refers to the resemblance of the leaves with those of Epipremnum aureum (Linden & André) G.S. Bunting (1964: 28), an ornamental species of the family Araceae. The name derives from the greek epi = on and premnon = bottom of tree trunk and from latin folium = leaf. Conservation status: — Peperomia epipremnifolia can be considered as Vulnerable (VU B1ab[i, ii, iii]) (IUCN 2014) since only seven populations have been registered inhabiting the mountain forests of four municipalities in southern Bahia, two of which are conservation units. Comments: — Peperomia epipremnifolia, assigned to subgenus Leptorhynchum, is a terrestrial, stoloniferous herb, glabrous, with alternate leaves, wide ovate, lustrous, with 3–4 pairs of secondary veins. The veins are impressed and paler than the blade above, reaching just bellow the median portion, and margins are densely pilose. The spikes have the same length or are longer than the leaves, erect, sustained by a 2-bracteate peduncle. Fruits are elliptic-ovate with short-rostrate obliquous apex. These characters easily distinguish this species from others of this genus found in the region, belongs to the genus. Peperomia epipremnifolia, among the species of Peperomia which occur in humid montane forests of southern Bahia, resembles P. hernandiifolia (Vahl.) A. Dietrich (1831: 157), found from Central to South America, which differs from this species mainly by its leaves peltate and smaller (5–12 x 3–8 cm), and smaller spikes (up to 8 cm long). It is similar to P. bella var. subcordata Yuncker (Trelease & Yuncker 1950: 691) from Colombia, differing by its life form (rupiculous), habitat (lower elevation, 100 m), leaves slightly ciliate only at apex and smaller spikes (up to 12 cm long) with only one peduncular bract. Of P. pseudorhynchophoron C.DC. (Candolle 1869: 425), found from northern Nicaragua to northeastern Peru, differs by its branches, petiole and peduncle sparsely with trichomes, and subpeltate leaves. Additional specimens examined (paratypes): — BRAZIL. Bahia: Arataca, Parque Nacional de Serra das Lontras, trilha da Serra das Lontras, 15º12’21”S 39º23’7”W, 5 May 2011 (fl.), P. Leitman et al. 204 (RB!, CEPEC!); trilha da Pupunheira, trilha nova, saindo à direita no Mormaço, 15º10’12”S 39º20’26”W, 551–782 m elev., 4 July 2011 (fl.), P. Leitman et al. 343 (RB!); Barro Preto, Reserva Serra da Pedra Lascada, 14º46’6”S 39º32’18”W, 626 m elev., 5 December 2011 (fl.), D. Monteiro et al. 572 (RB!, CEPEC!); Almadina, Serra do Corcovado, Fazenda São José, propriedade do Sr. Francisco, 14º42’15”S 39º36’10”W, 628 m elev., 6 December 2011 (fl.), D. Monteiro et al. 584 (RB!); Camacan, RPPN Serra Bonita, trilha das bromélias, 15º23’30”S 39º33’55”W, 811 m elev., 13 January 2012 (fl.), R. F. Monteiro et al. 516 (RB!, CEPEC!, NY!); estrada da Torre, 15º23’19”S 39º33’57”W, 702 m elev., 27 June 2012 (fl., fr.), D. Monteiro et al. 761 (CEPEC!, MO!, RB!).

Topic: Piperaceae Chemical and Biological Studies
Subfield: Pharmacology
Field: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics
Domain: Life Sciences